Abstract: A conventional glass tank furnace used in the manufacture of glass is provided with a system for recovering heat which inevitably escapes from the furnace roof or crown above the melting and refining tanks of the furnace. A heat recovery plenum means is mounted on top of the furnace roof or crown, and an air blower supplies cool air to the plenum means through a first duct means. The cool air directed to the plenum means cools the furnace crown and in the case of a suspended flat arch crown, the supporting steel work. The cool air in the plenum means is heated by heat escaping from the furnace crown, and thereafter is directed through second duct means to a main combustion air blower where the heated air from the plenum means is mixed with primary combustion air and directed to the furnace and to the furnace burners. Control means are provided to maintain the air in the plenum means at positive pressure so as to prevent air in the furnace from escaping through the furnace crown.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming chemically coated glass scrap is disclosed. The scrap is introduced into the oxidizing atmosphere of a hydrocarbon-fuel fired glass melting furnace. Some of the glass is melted with the unmelted portion being melted with the glass batch as it moves through the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for cooling a molten stream of glass flowing in a firebrick hearth from an entrance end to an exit end of a glass furnace forehearth, the method comprising the steps of: cooling the bottom of the hearth which cools the molten glass by forcing air through ducts in the hearth bottom insulation; cooling each side of the hearth which cools the molten glass by forcing air through ducts along the side of the hearth.

Abstract: An automatic cooling adjustment system for the forehearth of a glass furnace which enables the minimization of the amount of energy used in the forehearth. The system is utilized in a forehearth wherein a continually activated and adjustable cooling wind apparatus operates in conjunction with an electric or fuel fired heating system which controls or maintains the glass within a desired temperature range and at a predetermined temperature gradient range over the length of the forehearth. An automatic means is provided to adjust the amount of cooling wind and to maintain it at whatever level is required in order to minimize the opposing heating energy required. The system includes a timer which enables small automatic cooling wind adjustments during a first, relatively short time period and which enables temperature stabilization in the forehearth during a second, relatively long time period. The cycle of small adjustments is repeated as necessary to keep the heating system within pre-set energy limits.

Abstract: A glass delivery system is disclosed having a glass conducting pipe enclosed within a refractory structure. The refractory structure is spaced about the pipe and defines a closed space for receiving therein a quantity of the glass. Flow control means is provided for regulating flow through the pipe. Means is further provided for isolating the flow control device from glass in the closed space to thereby avoid a bypass of said flow control device. A method for operating a glass delivery system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A glass delivery system is disclosed having a central glass conducting pipe enclosed within a heat exchange structure. Heat shields reflect energy back to the pipe for reducing heat losses from the pipe and heaters are located about the pipe to add heat energy as required. Heaters which may be immersed in surrounding glass, are provided externally of the pipe at connections into and out of the pipe, and a bellows arrangement for accommodating expansion due to thermal cycling is provided in at least one of such connections. In a preferred embodiment, oxidizable refractory metals are used which may be protected from contamination by providing inert or reducing purging atmospheres or vacuum. Heat losses may also be regulated by atmospheric control of the purging atmosphere as well as control of a working fluid for the heat exchange structure. Means may be provided for shielding or insulating refractory components from intense radiation.

Abstract: Glass material for infrared ray-transmitting optical fibers comprises a three-component material made of a 28 mol % to 38 mol % BaF.sub.2 -2 mol % to 7 mol % GdF.sub.3 -58 mol % to 69 mol % ZrF.sub.4 -based composition. The glass material is cast in a metal mold with a hollow section which is preheated to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. but below the glass deformation temperature and annealing the melt in the metal mold to form a glass rod. The glass rod forming step includes heating the melt in the temperature range of between about 200.degree. C. and less than the glass deformation temperature and cooling the melt. The glass rod is removed from the metal mold and optically polished at the ends and sides and is then drawn into a fiber while applying tension to the tip of the glass rod while the glass rod is being heated. The glass rod is drawn into a glass fiber while maintaining the temperature at the end portion of the glass rod constant.

Abstract: The method for forming a metallic, dielectric or semiconductor modified amorphous glass material includes the steps of forming a fluid host matrix material on a substrate surface having relative movement thereto, such as a wheel; directing a fluid modifier material in a stream, as from a nozzle toward the substrate surface in a direction such that it converges with the host matrix material; maintaining the temperature of the substrate or wheel between 4.2.degree. K and ambient room temperature while rotating the wheel at a velocity of 1000 to 5000 rpm to obtain a surface velocity of between 1000 to 4000 centimeters per second thereby to obtain rapid quenching of the host and modifier materials as they contact one another at a rate of from 10.sup.4 to at least 10.sup.8 C per second or more to produce a ribbon of modified amorphous glass material in which the electrical and optical transport properties and the number and type of electronic configurations can be controlled.

Abstract: There is described a process and an apparatus for the granulation of glass melts by bringing the melt into contact with water, in which there is obtained a homogeneous granulate without oversize grains and glass threads. This is attained by impacting the vertically downwardly flowing glass melt all around with laterally slanting downwardly directed high pressure water jets. The apparatus consists essentially of an overflow channel to an overflow funnel and a collecting container, wherein there is arranged below the overflow channel a preferably U-shaped nozzle carrier which entirely or partially surrounds the melt and carries nozzles with a conical angle of 15.degree.-180.degree. sloping downwardly.

Abstract: A continuous tank-type glass melting furnace containing a bath of molten glass and having a waist section of reduced width whereat a submerged weir extends across the path of the molten glass bath flowing therethrough. The weir is located adjacent the floor of the waist section for modifying the flow path in the lower regions of the molten bath between the refining and conditioning zones of the furnace. Also, a surface barrier and stirrers may be provided in the waist section for improving the homogeneity of the molten bath.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for remelting scrap glass fibers is disclosed. The removal of binder and remelting of the scrap are carried out in one operation, and the resulting molten scrap fibers are fed directly into a conventional glass melting furnace. Granular raw glass batch also is fed into the glass melting furnace.

Abstract: An electron multiplier device formed of the combination of a support made of high temperature-resisting electrically-insulating ceramic material and of a layer of secondary electron emitting semi-conducting glass material fused to the inner wall of the ceramic material and method of making; the multiplier device is further characterized in that the ceramic material and the glass material have substantially the same coefficient of expansion. The device is made by pouring molten semi-conducting glass into at least one channel in a ceramic support having a higher fusion point than that of the glass and the same coefficient of expansion, flowing the glass under pressure through the channel and cooling to leave a semi-conductor wall to the channel.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a crystalline blast furnace slag, which comprises: endlessly connecting at prescribed intervals a plurality of rectangular metal cooling bodies each with a hollow for cooling water, to form a plurality of cooling grooves with a width at the top end thereof of from 40 to 80 mm corresponding to said prescribed intervals and a depth of from 100 to 300 mm and becoming narrower toward the depth thereof, each between two adjacent ones of said cooling bodies; continuously pouring a molten blast furnace slag sequentially into said plurality of cooling grooves in an atmosphere of an inert gas and/or a reducing gas, while moving said plurality of cooling bodies endlessly connected in circulation in the connecting direction thereof; and, circulating a cooling water through said hollows for cooling water of said plurality of cooling bodies during the pouring of said molten blast furnace slag into said plurality of cooling grooves, to cool said plurality of cooling bodies, there

Abstract: In an apparatus for conditioning a supply of molten thermoplastic material, preferably glass, a chamber in flow communication with the supply of glass is mounted for rotation about an axis. The chamber has a flow control surface having at least two regions, each uniquely oriented for influencing the flow of the molten glass therealong. In one region the glass experiences delayed flow to enable it to give up heat and in a region downstream of the first, the glass experiences accelerated flow to enable it to counteract changes in viscosity resulting from previous heat loss. The chamber is rotated so that a fresh supply of glass at an elevated temperature is deposited circumferentially on the flow control surface in order to moderate the influence of heat loss as the glass flows through the chamber.

Abstract: In a glass melting tank, a plurality of stirrers are spaced apart across the tank and arranged to extract heat from the forward flowing glass so as to achieve a differential extraction of heat from the glass which flows along a return path towards the inlet end after stirring, and that glass which continues along a forward path to the outlet end of the tank.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming glass fiber strand directly and continuously from raw batch glass-forming material, which includes means for continuously electrically melting raw batch, glass-forming materials, forehearth and fiber forming means for continuously receiving said melted glass, means for continuously attenuating said glass from said fiber forming means in the form of a multiplicity of fiberglass filaments, and means for converging and winding said filaments in the form of a fiberglass strand.

Abstract: A continuous process for melting inorganic raw materials to produce molten glass in a generally cylindrical continuously rotating chamber comprising the following steps:A. feeding the raw materials into the chamber;B. providing a flame of high intensity heat produced by the combustion of fuel with a gas containing about 50 to about 100 percent by volume oxygen and directing the flame into the chamber in such a manner that the raw materials are melted; andC. rotating said chamber at a sufficient speed and cooling the exterior of the chamber with a liquid coolant in such a manner that the inner surface of the chamber is coated with a layer of molten glass, the layer is solidified, and a solidified layer of glass is maintained throughout the process; andD. withdrawing molten glass.

Abstract: Molten glass is conditioned to achieve a desired thermal distribution suitable for feeding the glass to a forming process. The molten glass is fed to the inlet end of a conditioning zone of a tank and glass flow through the conditioning zone is established in a direction towards a remote outlet from that zone with substantially no return flow. The glass is selectively cooled adjacent the inlet to the conditioning zone to achieve a desired temperature profile through the depth and width of a transverse cross section adjacent the conditioning zone inlet so that on flowing through that zone the further conditioning completes transformation of the glass to a state suitable for feeding to the forming process. The cooling is effected at a position selected in dependence on the temperature distribution within the glass and the required temperature profile by passing cooling fluid through at least one fluid cooled pipe immersed in the molten glass located in the forward flowing body of the glass.