Abstract: A high pressure cleaning system for removing deposits from glass furnaces.

Abstract: A method has been developed for converting a hot, operating furnace to oxy-fuel avoiding the problems of the past. This method comprises removing an old burner from the furnace, drilling a cylindrical hole, with its axis generally aligning with the axis of the opening in the old burner block, through the old burner block, removing the cut out portion, inserting a refractory tube in the new hole, and fastening an oxy-fuel burner onto the furnace to join in a sealing and or biased relationship with the outside end of said tube.

Abstract: A furnace for melting and refining E glass comprises a melting and refining tank for melting and refining the glass batch materials into glass and a forehearth, downstream of the tank, for further refining the glass and delivering the glass to fiberizing means. The melting and refining tank is heated with oxygen fired burners. The oxygen fired burners in the melting and refining tank are located in the sidewalls at the upstream end of the tank and extend for about one-third the length of the tank. In one embodiment, burners are also located in the upstream end wall. This arrangement of the oxygen fired burners at the upstream end of the melting and refining tank moves the melter hot spot upstream for better refining of the glass and enables the furnace to produce a higher output of glass than can be obtained in a conventional E glass furnace of the same size.

Abstract: An oxygen-fuel firing system for a furnace comprising separate, spread apart nozzles for introducing gaseous streams of oxygen and fuel into the furnace at spaced apart locations. The gaseous streams merge within the furnace away from the furnace walls and crown. Thus, the main combustion within the furnace takes place in the central portion of the furnace where a broad flame cloud is created. The broad flame cloud provides a more uniform temperature profile within the furnace for a more efficient processing of materials being melted in the furnace.

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 of and apparatus for directing and regulating the flow of combustion air to opposite ends of the regenerators of a regenerative tank-type glass melting furnace so as to minimize localized overheating and more uniformly heat the checkerworks of the regenerators, thereby improving the operating efficiency and prolonging the useful life thereof. To accomplish these ends, a substantial portion of the combustion air supplied to the regenerators is delivered to their downstream ends while a lesser portion is supplied to their upstream ends by ducts which include valves for cycling and a damper for apportioning the amount of combustion air flowing to opposite ends of the regenerators.

Abstract: An apparatus having a flat pivotal member for carrying and rotating a shipping container from its normal upright transporting attitude through an angle of less than 90.degree. to an attitude inclined from the horizontal for packing glass sheets therein. The glass sheets are placed in the shipping container when it is in the inclined packing attitude with sheets of paper interleaved therebetween and, when packed, the container is rotated to its upright transporting attitude.

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.