Support structures for accommodating thermal expansion and glass manufacturing apparatuses comprising the same

A glass manufacturing apparatus comprising:

• (A) a first assembly comprising
• (i) a first connector tube for receiving molten glass;
• (ii) a stir chamber disposed on a base, the stir chamber comprising:
• (a) an entry port attached to the first connector tube;
• (b) a chamber conduit extending at least partially downward in a vertical direction away from the entry port;
• and
• (c) an elbow conduit comprising (1) a first portion in fluid communication with the chamber conduit to receive molten glass therefrom and
• (2) a second portion extending at an angle from the vertical direction to re-direct the molten glass flowing from the chamber conduit;
• (B) a second assembly comprising:
• (i) a second connector tube connected to the elbow conduit to deliver molten glass therefrom, wherein at least a portion of the second connector tube extends at least partially upward in the vertical direction;
• and
• (ii) a delivery vessel connected to the second connector tube, wherein:
• one of the base or the delivery vessel is attached to a reference point that is fixed in the vertical direction;
• the other one of the base or the delivery vessel is movable in response to thermal expansion of the second connector tube;
• and
• movement of the other one of the base or the delivery vessel responsive to thermal expansion of the second connector tube is independent of thermal expansion of the other one of the base or the delivery vessel;
• and
• (C) a support system in mechanical contact with the one of the base or the delivery vessel that is attached to the reference point, the support system counteracting a gravitational load associated with the one of the base or the delivery vessel to facilitate vertical expansion thereof away from the reference point upon heating.