Method and electric furnace for melting vitreous materials
AssigneeTrend Group S.P.A.
InventorGiuseppe Bisazza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for melting vitrifiable materials employs a melting tank for containing a molten bath with an upper surface. The tank has a floor and side walls and channels for discharging molten materials. A crown is situated above the floor and vitrifiable materials are introduced onto the upper surface of the molten bath. A plurality of electrodes having a selected shape and position are situated inside the tank for melting the vitrifiable materials with electric current. The electrodes rest on the floor and extend across the furnace to the opposite wall so as to reduce the head of the molten bath and consequently reduce melting time and energy consumption.
Claims15
A method for melting vitrifiable materials, comprising the steps of:
- providing a melting tank having a floor and side walls made of refractory material for containing a molten bath, with a predetermined head and at least one channel for discharging molten materials from the molten bath;
- introducing a primary batch of vitrifiable materials into said tank via an entry mouth thereof;
- providing, inside said tank, a plurality of electrodes having a predetermined shape and length, said electrodes having a substantially constant cross-section over their entire length and being so positioned as to melt completely said vitrifiable materials by means of diffused electric currents;
- depositing a covering layer of vitrifiable materials in the solid state onto the upper surface of said molten bath so as to contain the dispersion of heat from the bath and screen the upper surface of the furnace;
- wherein said electrodes have one longitudinal end rigidly secured to a side wall of the tank and the other longitudinal end in contact with the opposite side wall.
An electric furnace comprising:
- a melting tank for containing a molten bath with a floor, side walls, channels for discharging molten materials from the molten bath;
- means for introducing into said tank a primary batch of vitrifiable materials and for depositing a covering layer on the molten bath having a predetermined head;
- a plurality of electrodes situated inside said tank so as to melt and keep in the molten state said vitrifiable materials by means of diffused electric currents, said electrodes having an overall length and a substantially constant cross-section over said length and a predetermined position;
- a crown situated above said floor, all said electrodes being so positioned inside the tank to substantially rest at the same level on said floor so as to reduce to a minimum the head of the molten bath, with a consequent reduction in the time required to change the primary batch and the power consumption
- wherein said electrodes have one longitudinal end rigidly secured to a side wall of the tank and the other longitudinal end in contact with the opposite side wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.