Device for electrically grounding a float glass production apparatus

A float glass production apparatus comprising:

• a glass melt producing unit including a melting tank for making a glass melt and a refining tank for degassing the glass melt;
• a float tank including a metallic basin and a metal bath contained in the metallic basin;
• conducting devices for conducting the glass melt from the glass melt producing unit to the metal bath contained in the float tank;
• a device for minimizing direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and the float tank, said device for minimizing said direct current comprising
• at least one auxiliary electrode connected with ground and located in the glass melt producing unit so as to be in electrical contact with the glass melt when the glass melt is present in the glass melt producing unit;
• a direct electrical connection between the metallic basin of the float tank and ground;
• a current measuring device for measuring said direct current, said current measuring device being electrically connected between an outlet of the glass melt producing unit and the float tank;
• and
• a current regulating device electrically connected between said at least one auxiliary electrode and said ground, said current regulating device comprising means for changing said direct current in response to a measured current determined by the current measuring device.