Coating of sheet glass and device for making this method

1507996 Coating glass PILKINGTON BROS Ltd 9 June 1976 [11 June 1975] 25077/75 Heading C1M [Also in Division C7] A moving glass ribbon 21 is coated by directing gas onto a surface to be coated from a distributer extending transversely across the ribbon, so that the gas flows parallel to the glass under laminar flow conditions and uniformly across the width of the surface. The glass is preferably still hot from a forming process (e.g. a float, vertical-drawing or rolling process). The distributer (shown in crosssection) comprises a U-shaped channel 27 defined by shaped carbon blocks 50, 51, 52, 53 (and by the glass 21 itself), the gas being supplied to channel 27 from supply duct 41 via restrictor means 43 (to ensure uniform gas distribution across the ribbon width). Exhaust means (not shown) are provided for removal of excess coating gas. The temperature of the gas is preferably regulated to prevent deposition of solid material before the gas contacts the glass. Thus if the gas comprises a silane, the gas supply duct 41 may be cooled by water passing through ducts 39, 40. Alternatively, e.g. where metal vapour is used, heated oil may be passed through said ducts 39, 40. The gas may alternatively include metal carbonyl or acetylacetonate compounds. The gas preferably flows co-current with the glass ribbon at a Reynolds number below 2500.