Molten glass spout bowl refractory tube support mechanism and method of control

In a molten glass spout bowl mounted on fixed structure and defining one or more orifices through which molten glass is adapted to issue, and said spout bowl also including at least one vertically reciprocating plunger, the lower end of which plunger cooperates with the orifice defining means to aid in the flow of glass through such orifices, the improvement comprising at least one refractory tube surrounding the plunger and having an upper end above the spout bowl, said tube having a lower end adapted to mate with an annular seating surface inside the spout bowl to interrupt the flow of glass to the orifice defining means, a horizontally extending frame for supporting said refractory tube, a vertically extending pivot post for said frame, support structure associated with the fixed structure of the glass forehearth and supporting said frame for at least limited horizontal swinging movement on the axis of said pivot post to and from an active position wherein said tube is so supported inside the spout bowl, clamping means defined in part on fixed structure associated with said glass forehearth and in part on said frame to hold said frame in said active position, means for moving said frame down and up relative to said support structure to move the tube lower end toward and away, respectively, from the seating surface defined inside said spout bowl.