Abstract: Disclosed herein are modular molten glass delivery apparatuses and glass manufacturing apparatuses including the same. A module of a modular molten glass delivery apparatus includes a lower carriage comprising a plurality of lower carriage rollers. An upper rail system is supported on the lower carriage. The upper rail system includes upper support rails oriented at an elevation angle ? greater than 0 degrees relative to horizontal. The module further includes an upper carriage. The upper carriage includes a base plate oriented at an elevation angle ? greater than 0 degrees relative to horizontal and a plurality of upper carriage rollers engaged with the upper support rails of the upper rail system to facilitate translation of the upper carriage on the upper rail system. A support frame is coupled to the base plate and a molten glass delivery conduit assembly is supported on the base plate within the support frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modular molten glass delivery apparatuses and glass manufacturing apparatuses including the same. A module of a modular molten glass delivery apparatus includes a lower carriage comprising a plurality of lower carriage rollers. An upper rail system is supported on the lower carriage. The upper rail system includes upper support rails oriented at an elevation angle ? greater than 0 degrees relative to horizontal. The module further includes an upper carriage. The upper carriage includes a base plate oriented at an elevation angle ? greater than 0 degrees relative to horizontal and a plurality of upper carriage rollers engaged with the upper support rails of the upper rail system to facilitate translation of the upper carriage on the upper rail system. A support frame is coupled to the base plate and a molten glass delivery conduit assembly is supported on the base plate within the support frame.

Abstract: A method of melting glass and glass-ceramics that includes the steps: conveying a batch of raw materials into a submerged combustion melting apparatus, the melting apparatus having liquid-cooled walls and a floor; directing a flame into the batch of raw materials and the melted batch with sufficient energy to form the raw materials into the melted batch; and heating a delivery orifice assembly in the floor of the submerged melting apparatus to convey the melted batch through the orifice assembly into a containment vessel. The melted batch has a glass or glass-ceramic composition that is substantially reactive to a refractory material comprising one or more of silica, zirconia, alumina, platinum and platinum alloys.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus is disclosed including a vessel configured to convey molten glass, a conduit extending from the vessel, the conduit including a distal end with a concave heating member joined thereto, a first electrical flange joined to the conduit, and a second electrical flange joined to the concave heating member. A method of preventing devitrification of a molten glass forming material is also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass article includes flowing molten glass through a first vessel to a downstream second vessel, the molten glass flowing through a conduit connecting the first vessel to the second vessel, the first vessel and the conduit defining a continuous free volume above a free surface of the molten glass extending into at least a portion of the conduit. The method further includes venting a first atmosphere contained in the free volume to a second atmosphere external to the first vessel through a vent tube connected to the conduit proximate a top of the conduit and above the free surface, the vent tube extending downward from the conduit to a distal end of the vent tube along a longitudinal axis at an angle a relative to horizontal and providing fluid communication between the first atmosphere and the second atmosphere.

Abstract: Disclosed are various methods and apparatus for forming sheet glass from molten glass whose liquidus viscosity is <5 kP. Also disclosed is a roller for receiving and cooling continuously-fed ribbon of glass whose liquidus viscosity is <5 kP onto the roller's outer surface, where the roller is configured to be maintained at a predetermined temperature and can be rotated at a predetermined speed so that the glass ribbon comes in contact with the roller for a set duration of time and rolls off the roller at the end of the set duration of time.

Abstract: Heating apparatuses and methods for glass tubing manufacturing are disclosed. A heating apparatus for glass tubing manufacturing includes a bowl configured to receive molten glass and a plurality of heating elements thermally coupled to the bowl. The bowl has a bowl height and includes a tub portion configured to hold the molten glass, a bowl well extending beneath the tub portion, and an orifice at a distal end of the bowl well. The plurality of heating elements include a first heating element disposed at a first vertical location along the bowl height, a second heating element disposed at a second vertical location along the bowl height, wherein the first vertical location is vertically spaced apart from the second vertical location.

Abstract: In embodiments, a melter for melting glass may include an inlet wall, an outlet wall opposite the inlet wall, and sidewalls extending from the inlet wall to the outlet wall. The inlet wall, outlet wall, and sidewalls define a glass melting space enclosed by a floor and a top. In embodiments, the inlet wall may comprise a glass contact wall comprising a glass contact surface facing the glass melting space. A superstructure of the inlet wall comprises a jack arch positioned over the glass contact wall and at least a portion of the glass melting space. A plane of an interior face of the jack arch and a plane of the glass contact surface are off-set in a horizontal direction. A vertical distance from the floor to an underside of the jack arch is less than a vertical distance from the floor to an underside of the top.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a delivery tube terminating at a lower end in a delivery slot. A stream of molten material is delivered along a travel plane in a travel direction. A first plate is positioned adjacent the lower end of the delivery tube on a first side of the travel plane. The first plate includes a first edge extending adjacent the travel plane and a first thermal expansion slot extending from the first edge to a first interior. A second plate is positioned adjacent the lower end of the delivery tube on a second side of the travel plane. The second plate includes a second edge extending adjacent the travel plane and a second thermal expansion slot extending from the second edge to a second interior. The second edge is spaced apart from the first edge to define a delivery opening through which the delivery tube extends.

Abstract: A method of melting glass and glass-ceramics that includes the steps: conveying a batch of raw materials into a submerged combustion melting apparatus, the melting apparatus having liquid-cooled walls and a floor; directing a flame into the batch of raw materials and the melted batch with sufficient energy to form the raw materials into the melted batch; and heating a delivery orifice assembly in the floor of the submerged melting apparatus to convey the melted batch through the orifice assembly into a containment vessel. The melted batch has a glass or glass-ceramic composition that is substantially reactive to a refractory material comprising one or more of silica, zirconia, alumina, platinum and platinum alloys.

Abstract: A method of melting glass and glass-ceramics that includes the steps: conveying a batch of raw materials into a submerged combustion melting apparatus, the melting apparatus having liquid-cooled walls and a floor; directing a flame into the batch of raw materials and the melted batch with sufficient energy to form the raw materials into the melted batch; and heating a delivery orifice assembly in the floor of the submerged melting apparatus to convey the melted batch through the orifice assembly into a containment vessel. The melted batch has a glass or glass-ceramic composition that is substantially reactive to a refractory material comprising one or more of silica, zirconia, alumina, platinum and platinum alloys.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modular molten glass delivery apparatuses and glass manufacturing apparatuses including the same. A module of a modular molten glass delivery apparatus includes a lower carriage comprising a plurality of lower carriage rollers. An upper rail system is supported on the lower carriage. The upper rail system includes upper support rails oriented at an elevation angle ? greater than 0 degrees relative to horizontal. The module further includes an upper carriage. The upper carriage includes a base plate oriented at an elevation angle ? greater than 0 degrees relative to horizontal and a plurality of upper carriage rollers engaged with the upper support rails of the upper rail system to facilitate translation of the upper carriage on the upper rail system. A support frame is coupled to the base plate and a molten glass delivery conduit assembly is supported on the base plate within the support frame.

Abstract: An assembly provides electrical current to molten glass in a glass melting tank. The assembly includes a structure having an electrode that is in contact with the molten glass, and a fluid-cooled connection apparatus. The fluid-cooled connection apparatus includes a first connection element electrically connected to a current source and a second connection element electrically connected to the current source, where the first and second connection elements are spaced apart from each other; and an electrical cross-connect strut having a first end secured to the first connection element and a second end secured to the second connection element. The assembly also includes a bus bar electrically connected to the fluid-cooled connection apparatus and to an electrode. The current source provides a current to the molten glass via the structure and the electrode for heating the molten glass through resistive heating.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for shrinking bubbles on the free surface of a volume of molten glass contained within or flowing through a vessel, thereby minimizing re-entrainment of the bubbles into the volume of molten glass and reducing the occurrence of bubbles in finished glass products produced from the molten glass. Methods of identifying a source location for the bubbles is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying molten glass includes an electrical flange attached to a metallic vessel and an electrical flange support apparatus coupled to an electrode portion of the electrical flange and configured to prevent distortion of the metallic vessel and misalignment between the metallic vessel and an adjacent metallic vessel. A bracing assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of glass manufacturing apparatuses. The glass manufacturing apparatuses may include a glass fining module. The glass fining module may include a refractory metal vessel comprising a length extending in a longitudinal direction. A plurality of insulation layers may surround at least a portion of the refractory metal vessel. The plurality of insulation layers may comprise an insulation structure extending around at least a portion of the refractory metal vessel and comprising a plurality of arched portions and a bulk insulation structure surrounding the insulation structure. An exterior support structure may at least partially surround the plurality of insulation layers. Rollers may be coupled to the exterior support structure such that the glass fining module is translatable in the longitudinal direction on the rollers.

Abstract: A method for reconditioning a glass manufacturing system includes establishing a reducing atmosphere in a glass melting vessel and draining a glass melt composition from the melting vessel while the reducing atmosphere is in the vessel. The pressure of the reducing atmosphere is greater than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the melting vessel and the reducing atmosphere is established by operating at least one combustion burner in the melting vessel in a fuel-rich condition.

Abstract: A glass melt delivery system vessel has at least one sidewall and floor made of a refractory material, such as zirconia, and at least one electrode extending through the refractory material. The at least one electrode is configured to heat a glass melt in contact with the refractory material at an average temperature of at least about 1600 C° without exceeding a breakdown condition of the refractory material in contact with the glass melt.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for conditioning molten glass. The apparatus includes a connecting tube assembly having a conduit for conveying the molten glass, the conduit including at least two flanges and a sealing member disposed between the at least two flanges around an outer peripheral region of the flanges, thereby forming an enclosed volume between an outer wall of the conduit, the at least two flanges and the sealing member. An atmosphere within the volume may be controlled such that a predetermined partial pressure of hydrogen or a predetermined partial pressure of oxygen may be maintained within the volume. A current may be established between the at least two flanges to heat the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of making molten glass. The apparatus includes a glass former having a slot orifice design to deliver a glass ribbon. The slot orifice design can include a transition section, a slot extension, and external structural reinforcements. In some embodiments, the orifice opening distance of the slot extension varies along the width of the orifice. In some embodiments, the orifice has an orifice opening distance that is smaller at the center of the slot extension than at the edges of the slot extension, which limits glass flow at the center of the slot extension. Also disclosed is a method of making glass using the disclosed apparatus.