Barrier apparatus and method of use for melting and refining glass or the like
AssigneePPG Industries, Inc.
InventorsJohn F. Krumwiede, Henry C. Goode
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method of making glass or the like, wherein the batch materials are liquefied in a distinct zone from the refiner, the liquefied material is heated in an intermediate stage before being fed to the refiner, and a composite barrier of a cooled frame with graphite inserts is employed to restrict passage of material from the intermediate stage.
Claims12
A method of making glass or the like wherein partially melted, liquefied glass batch materials are received in an intermediate vessel with relatively low density material at the surface regions of the pool of material held in the vessel, and the liquefied material is passed from an outlet end of the intermediate vessel to a refining stage, characterized by blocking flow at the outlet end of the vessel so as to restrict the outlet flow of the liquefied material to the lower half of the vessel, with the blocking at the surface regions being by means of a metallic structure extending across substantially the entire width of the vessel and provided with circulation of coolant, the blocking below the surface region being substantially by means of a graphite structure through which coolant is not circulated, whereby the blocking of unwanted surface flow is effected without undue cooling of the liquefied material adjacent to the barrier that would induce drawing low density material down into the outlet flow stream.
Apparatus for making glass or the like comprising means for liquefying glass batch materials, an elongated channel for receiving partially melted material from the liquefying means, a refining vessel communicating with an outlet end of the channel, barrier means at the outlet end of the channel for restricting outlet flow to the lower half of the channel, the upper portion of the barrier means including a metallic structure extending across substantially the entire width of the channel so as to block flow at the surface of the material held in the channel, the metallic member being provided with means to pass coolant therethrough, a substantial area of the submerged portion of the barrier means consisting of a graphite structure not provided with coolant passage means, whereby significant reduction of the outlet opening can be achieved without unduly affecting the thermal conditions in the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.