Abstract: An improved burner for injecting fuel into the passages for heated combustion air connecting the checkers with the ports of a regenerative-type glass melting furnace. The ports are positioned somewhat above the level of the molten glass contained in the melting tank of the furnace. The burner comprises an elongated tubular structure having an angled tip portion for emitting fuel such as natural gas, which gas ignites in the presence of the heated combustion air and creates flames directed from the ports across the melting tank and slightly downwardly toward the surface of the glass. The angled tip portion is cooled by the flow of a heat absorbing medium such as water directed therearound, and is shaped in a manner to avoid the occurrence of stagnant areas in the tip portion so as to extend the life of the burner.

Abstract: A method for preventing the dropping of individual bricks from a sprung arch roof employed in a continuous tank-type glass melting furnace, the dropping of the bricks normally occurring during heat-up of the furnace. The slightly tapered bricks employed in constructing the roof are oriented with their long axis in the vertical direction and, as heating occurs and the structure differentially expands and the bricks dry out, some become sufficiently loose to drop from the roof into the tank of the furnace. In visually observing the interior surface of the roof during heat-up, it can be seen which bricks are settling and likely to drop therefrom. These bricks are pulled up through the roof from above by a suction cup and mortar is placed around the bricks. The bricks are then dropped back into place with the mortar holding the bricks until they become wedged firmly in place as the temperature of the roof increases.

Abstract: A float glass forming apparatus including a tank having an exit end over which a glass ribbon carried on a bath of molten metal contained in the tank is discharged. The exit end wall of the tank is provided with a cooler covered by a heat shield that maintains the external surfaces of the cooler at a temperature below the melting point of the molten metal bath so that molten metal coming into contact therewith is solidified.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for feeding glass making materials into the forward end of a continuous glass melting furnace whereby the melting rate of the materials is increased. In accordance with the improved method, the glass making materials are continuously deposited on the molten glass bath in the doghouse of the furnace, periodically compacted to remove entrapped air therefrom, and advanced into the furnace while thus compacted. The apparatus has a reciprocating pressing member which is periodically advanced from a rest position in a raised attitude over a transverse row of newly deposited glass making materials, lowered to compact the materials between it and the surface of the molten glass bath, and advanced in its lowered attitude to move the compacted glass making materials into the melting end of the furnace.