Batch charger for a melting furnace

A feed assembly comprising:

• a hollow tubular body extending along a central axis from a first end to a second end, the tubular body comprising a port in which the tubular body tapers radially inwardly from a first port end to a second port end at the second end of the tubular body, the second port end being spaced apart from the first port end along the central axis and having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than that of the first port end;
• and
• a batch charger disposed within the tubular body and having a first charger end proximate the first end of the tubular body and a second charger end proximate the second end of the tubular body, wherein the second charger end is spaced away from the second end of the tubular body to provide a port space within the port, and wherein the batch charger is configured to deliver materials through the tubular body, into the port space, and out of the port through the second end of the tubular body, and wherein the batch charger is a screw batch charger having a central rotation shaft and one or more screw flights extending from the central rotation shaft, wherein the central rotation shaft has an interior that forms a void for circulating coolant within the central rotation shaft, a coolant inlet at or adjacent a first end of the central rotation shaft for coolant to enter, and a coolant outlet at or adjacent the first end of the central rotation shaft for coolant to exit,
• wherein the second charger end of the batch charger extends beyond the first port end of the port.

An apparatus comprising

• a melting chamber that includes a wall and that is configured to contain molten glass having a top level;
• and
• a feed assembly comprising:
• a hollow tubular body extending along a central axis from a first end to a second end, the second end of the tubular body being connected to the wall of the melting chamber in a location configured to be below the top level of the molten glass contained within the melting chamber, the tubular body comprising a port in which the tubular body tapers radially inwardly from a first port end to a second port end at the second end of the tubular body, the second port end being connected to the wall of the melting chamber and spaced apart from the first port end along the central axis and having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than that of the first port end;
• and
• a batch charger disposed within the tubular body and having a first charger end proximate the first end of the tubular body and a second charger end proximate the second end of the tubular body, wherein the second charger end is spaced away from the second end of the tubular body to provide a port space within the port, and wherein the batch charger is configured to deliver materials through the tubular body, into the port space, and out of the port through the second end of the tubular body.

A method of feeding batch materials into a melting chamber having a wall, the method comprising:

• providing a feed assembly having a tubular body and a batch charger disposed within the tubular body, the tubular body extending along a central axis from a first end to a second end, the second end being connected to the wall of the melting chamber, and comprising a port in which the tubular body tapers radially inwardly from a first port end to a second port end at the second end of the tubular body and wherein the second port end is connected to the wall of the melting chamber, the batch charger having a first charger end proximate the first end of the tubular body and a second charger end proximate the second end of the tubular body, the second charger end being spaced away from the second end of the tubular body to provide a port space within the port;
• loading batch materials into the tubular body of the feed assembly;
• delivering the batch materials through the tubular body towards the second end, the batch materials compacting within and filling the port space of the port;
• pushing the batch materials through the port and into the melting chamber through the second end of the tubular body, the batch materials being introduced into a glass melt contained within the melting chamber and submerging a burner;
• and
• melting the batch materials in the melting chamber as combustion gases from a submerged burner bubble through the glass melt.