A sheet of glass can be formed in a batch process by introducing molten glass onto a layer of molten tin within a tank. The tank may be outfitted with infrared emitters to control the amount of heat delivered to the tank while the sheet of glass is formed. A lower surface of the tank can have a three-dimensional shape, and the molten tin may be removed from the tank while the sheet of glass is ductile so that the sheet of glass is molded by the three-dimensional shape, thereby producing a shaped sheet of glass. The delivery of infrared energy to the tank may be facilitated by one or more ceramic glass surface.

Provided is a float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising a float bath configured to accommodate molten metal and to allow a glass ribbon to flow on a liquid surface of the molten metal in a first direction; a ceiling unit spaced upward apart from the float bath and elongated in the first direction; and a cooling module in at least a part of an entire region of the ceiling unit and configured to supply downward a cooling gas that cools the glass ribbon.

Provided is a float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising a float bath configured to accommodate molten metal and to allow a glass ribbon to flow on a liquid surface of the molten metal in a first direction; a ceiling unit spaced upward apart from the float bath and elongated in the first direction; and a cooling module in at least a part of an entire region of the ceiling unit and configured to supply downward a cooling gas that cools the glass ribbon.

There are provided a liquid vessel which is capable of being configured in a large size of prefabricated form, and a method for producing a glass product.

A liquid vessel for holding a liquid, comprising at least a first member, a second member and a third member; and a first engageable portion and a second engageable portion being configured such that the first member and the second member are brought into contact with each other to be engaged, and a third engageable portion being configured such that the third member is brought into contact with the first member and the second member in a direction intersecting an engagement direction of the first member and the second member to be engaged with the first member and the second member.

A hot-formed, chemically prestressable glass article having a low percentage of crystals or crystallites, in particular a plate-shaped, chemically prestressable glass article, as well as to a method and a device for its production are provided. The glass article has a composition including the components SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and Li.sub.2O and a content of seed formers (ZrO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, and TiO.sub.2) of at least 0.8 wt %, as well as at most ten crystals, including crystallites, per kilogram of glass, which have a maximum diameter greater than 1 ?m and up to at most 5 ?m.

A sheet of glass can be formed in a batch process by introducing molten glass onto a layer of molten tin within a tank. The tank may be outfitted with infrared emitters to control the amount of heat delivered to the tank while the sheet of glass is formed. A lower surface of the tank can have a three-dimensional shape, and the molten tin may be removed from the tank while the sheet of glass is ductile so that the sheet of glass is molded by the three-dimensional shape, thereby producing a shaped sheet of glass. The delivery of infrared energy to the tank may be facilitated by one or more ceramic glass surface.

A sheet of glass can be formed in a batch process by introducing molten glass onto a layer of molten tin within a tank. The tank may be outfitted with infrared emitters to control the amount of heat delivered to the tank while the sheet of glass is formed. A lower surface of the tank can have a three-dimensional shape, and the molten tin may be removed from the tank while the sheet of glass is ductile so that the sheet of glass is molded by the three-dimensional shape, thereby producing a shaped sheet of glass. The delivery of infrared energy to the tank may be facilitated by one or more ceramic glass surface.

A hot-formed, chemically prestressable glass article having a low percentage of crystals or crystallites, in particular a plate-shaped, chemically prestressable glass article, as well as to a method and a device for its production are provided. The glass article has a composition including the components SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and Li.sub.2O and a content of seed formers (ZrO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, and TiO.sub.2) of at least 0.8 wt %, as well as at most ten crystals, including crystallites, per kilogram of glass, which have a maximum diameter greater than 1 ?m and up to at most 5 ?m.

A method of reducing the volume of float bath atmosphere lost from an opening in the exit end of the float bath is described. The method comprises directing a first jet of fluid having a first jet velocity followed by a second jet velocity towards a plane a conveyance for a float glass ribbon. An obstruction in the path of the first jet of fluid causes the jet to change from the second to a third jet velocity. The obstruction may be a portion of a roller positioned outside the opening or a float glass ribbon that has been formed on a surface of molten metal contained in the float bath that has subsequently been transferred through the opening. A float bath having sealing means to reduce atmosphere loss from an exit of the float bath is also described, as is an assembly useful in carrying out the aforementioned methods.

A method of reducing the volume of float bath atmosphere lost from an opening in the exit end of the float bath is described. The method comprises directing a first jet of fluid having a first jet velocity followed by a second jet velocity towards a plane a conveyance for a float glass ribbon. An obstruction in the path of the first jet of fluid causes the jet to change from the second to a third jet velocity. The obstruction may be a portion of a roller positioned outside the opening or a float glass ribbon that has been formed on a surface of molten metal contained in the float bath that has subsequently been transferred through the opening. A float bath having sealing means to reduce atmosphere loss from an exit of the float bath is also described, as is an assembly useful in carrying out the aforementioned methods.