公开(公告)号：US11198636B2

公开(公告)日：2021-12-14

申请号：US16298532

申请日：2019-03-11

Applicant: Corning Incorporated

Inventor： Erling Richard Anderson ,  Tammy M Hoffmann ,  John Michael Jewell ,  Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias ,  Robert Clark Moore

IPC: C03B37/029

Abstract: A furnace system includes a muffle defining a furnace cavity. A lower heater is coupled to the muffle and is configured to create a hot zone within the furnace cavity having a temperature of about 1900° C. or greater. An upper muffle extension is positioned above the muffle and defines a handle cavity. A downfeed handle is positioned within the handle cavity such that a gap is defined between an outer surface of the downfeed handle and an inner surface of the upper muffle extension. An upper heater is thermally coupled to the upper muffle extension and configured to heat the gap. A gas screen is positioned in the upper muffle extension and is configured to inject a process gas into the handle cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20210355018A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

申请号：US17319811

申请日：2021-05-13

Applicant: CORNING INCORPORATED

Inventor： Erling Richard Anderson ,  Tammy Michelle Hoffmann ,  Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias ,  Robert Clark Moore ,  Christopher Scott Thomas

IPC: C03B37/029

Abstract: An optical fiber forming apparatus comprises: a draw furnace comprising: (i) a muffle with an inner surface, (ii) an axial opening below the muffle, the inner surface of the muffle defining a passageway extending through the axial opening, and (iii) an upper inlet into the passageway; and a tube that extends into the passageway of the draw furnace above the axial opening, the tube having (i) an outer surface and the inner surface of the muffle surrounds the outer surface of the tube with a space separating the outer surface of the tube from the inner surface of the muffle, (ii) an inner surface that defines a second passageway extending through the tube, (iii) an inlet into the second passageway of the tube, (iii) an outlet out of the second passageway of the tube.

公开(公告)号：US20200166706A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-28

申请号：US16777226

申请日：2020-01-30

Applicant: Corning Incorporated

Inventor： Erling Richard Anderson ,  Kenneth William Roberts

IPC: G02B6/28 ,  H05B3/62 ,  H05B3/42 ,  G02B6/40 ,  G02B6/255 ,  C03B37/014 ,  C03B37/027

Abstract: A system for positioning an optical preform in a furnace is provided that includes an upper muffle and a downfeed handle assembly with a tube defining a first end and a second end, the second end extending into the upper muffle. A handle is disposed within the tube. A second end of the handle extends into the upper muffle and a seal assembly is positioned around both the tube and the handle. The first end of the handle extends through the seal assembly and a drive assembly is coupled with the downfeed handle.

公开(公告)号：US20190292090A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-26

申请号：US16298532

申请日：2019-03-11

Applicant: Corning Incorporated

Inventor： Erling Richard Anderson ,  Tammy M Hoffmann ,  John Michael Jewell ,  Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias ,  Robert Clark Moore

IPC: C03B37/029

Abstract: A furnace system includes a muffle defining a furnace cavity. A lower heater is coupled to the muffle and is configured to create a hot zone within the furnace cavity having a temperature of about 1900° C. or greater. An upper muffle extension is positioned above the muffle and defines a handle cavity. A downfeed handle is positioned within the handle cavity such that a gap is defined between an outer surface of the downfeed handle and an inner surface of the upper muffle extension. An upper heater is thermally coupled to the upper muffle extension and configured to heat the gap. A gas screen is positioned in the upper muffle extension and is configured to inject a process gas into the handle cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20170173575A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US15375843

申请日：2016-12-12

Applicant: Corning Incorporated

Inventor： Erling Richard Anderson ,  Stephen Mitchell Carlton ,  Steven Bruce Dawes ,  John Michael Jewell ,  Roger Alan Rose

IPC: B01J38/10 ,  B01J23/90 ,  B01J29/90 ,  B01J23/94

CPC classification number: B01J38/10 ,  B01J23/94 ,  B01J23/96 ,  B01J38/02

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for regenerating metal catalysts used in the purification of inert gases for use in fiber draw furnaces and other applications. The methods described herein can regenerate metal catalysts alone or in combination with molecular sieves. The methods disclosed herein are able to prevent the formation and retention of unwanted byproducts during and after the regeneration process, thereby efficiently converting oxidized catalysts to their reduced or elemental form. Gases purified with catalysts regenerated by the methods disclosed herein, when used in fiber draw furnaces and similar applications, can lead to extended equipment lifetimes and higher-quality products due to the lack of degradation by contaminants in the gas stream.