Oxygen-fired front end for glass forming operation

An oxygen-fired front end for use in glass forming operations, the front end comprising:

• a top wall, a bottom wall, and laterally spaced sidewalls, the top, bottom and side walls defining an elongated channel configured for the flow of molten glass in the direction of the length of the channel, the channel having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a plurality of oxygen-fired burners that are arranged to supply substantially all the heat to the elongated channel to maintain the molten glass at a desired operational temperature,
• the oxygen-fired burners being structured to substantially function without a source of air,
• the oxygen-fired burners being mounted to extend through the top wall and configured to direct a flame having a temperature of about 4200 degrees to about 5200 degrees F., with the oxygen-fired burners being oriented to direct the flame and products of combustion along the length of the channel,
• the oxygen-fired burners being oriented such that the burner flame does not directly contact the sidewalls;
• and
• additional oxygen-fired burners mounted so that they extend through one of the sidewalls, the additional oxygen-fired burners oriented to direct flame and products of combustion at an acute angle relative to the sidewalls,
• the angle being such that the burner flame from the additional burners does not directly contact the sidewalls.

An oxygen-fired front end for use in glass forming operations, the front end comprising:

• a top wall, a bottom wall, and laterally spaced sidewalls, the top, bottom and side walls defining an elongated channel configured for the flow of molten glass in the direction of the length of the channel, the channel having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a plurality of oxygen-fired burners that are arranged to supply substantially all the heat to the elongated channel to maintain the molten glass at a desired operational temperature,
• the oxygen-fired burners being structured to substantially function without a source of air,
• the oxygen-fired burners being mounted so that they extend through the top wall,
• the oxygen-fired burners oriented to direct flame and products of combustion at an acute angle relative to the sidewalls, with the oxygen-fired burners being oriented to direct the flame and products of combustion along the length of the channel;
• and
• additional oxygen-fired burners that extend through the side walls and that are mounted at an acute angle relative to the sidewalls;
• wherein the oxygen-fired burners are oriented so that flame from the oxygen-fired burners does not contact the sidewalls, thereby precluding direct flame contact with the sidewalls;
• and
• wherein the oxygen-fired burners are directed toward the upstream end.

An oxygen-fired front end for use in glass forming operations, the front end comprising:

• a top wall, a bottom wall, and laterally spaced sidewalls, the top, bottom and sidewalls defining an elongated channel configured for the flow of molten glass in the direction of the length of the channel, the channel having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• and
• a plurality of oxygen-fired burners that are arranged to supply substantially all the heat to the elongated channel to maintain the molten glass at a desired operational temperature,
• the oxygen-fired burners being structured to substantially fraction without a source of air,
• the oxygen-fired burners being mounted to extend through the top wall and being oriented to direct flame and products of combustion at a downward acute angle relative to the surface of the expected molten glass in the channel,
• with the oxygen-fired burners being oriented to direct the flame and products of combustion along the length of the channel,
• the oxygen-fired burners are disposed to direct the burner flame whereby the burner flame does not directly contact the sidewalls.