Abstract: A method for equalizing temperature differences in molten glass in at least one temperature equalization zone that is in the form of a channel for transporting a glass melt. The equalization zone is located upstream from a tapping point, at which the glass is tapped into a mold in a forming machine, or the like. Resistor heating elements are provided in the temperature equalization zone side walls, bottom wall, and roof. The temperatures of the surfaces of the respective side walls, bottom wall, and roof that are in contact with the resistor heating elements are measured. The resistor heating elements are controlled by an electric controller so that the temperatures of the surfaces are substantially equal to a predetermined tapping temperature of the glass melt.

Abstract: A glass feeder which discharges parallel runners of molten glass which can be sheared into discrete gobs for processing in a glass container forming machine. The spout bowl has a neck portion at the bottom which includes a discharge passage. This passage is circular at the top where it communicates with the bottom surface of the spout bowl and oblong at the bottom where it communicates with a corresponding oblong opening in a bathtub shaped orifice ring. The orifice ring has a closed oblong shaped bottom smaller than the oblong opening and has a plurality of discharge holes defined along a straight line.

Abstract: A spout bowl assembly having a non-rotating spout tube and a spout bowl defining a spiral volume about the tube for establishing uniform radial velocity of molten glass through the throat between the horizontal bottom surface of the tube and the horizontal portion of the bottom wall of the spout bowl.

Abstract: Fuel elements (16) support grids have openings (22,24) in the intersecting matrix strip (12,14) edges adjacent their points of intersection in which box-shaped conduit means (20) with integral mixing vanes (30 and 32) on the flow exit end (28) are secured. The vanes (30,32) create flow in two offset and oppositely transverse directions (34 and 36) relative to the direction of flow through the conduit means in order to generate thermal-hydraulic performance improving vortices (18) in the flow subchannels defined by the diagonal gaps between fuel elements (16). The box-shaped conduit means (20) also improve grid strength and rigidity.

Abstract: An improved guide tube post which decreases the flow induced vibration of a cylindrical control rod suspended therethrough. The inner wall of the post, near where it exits into a diffuser region, is provided with a polygonal cross section. When, due to random fluctuation, the rod assumes an eccentric position near the wall of the post, the polygonal post geometry provides a relatively large angle between the post wall and the surface of the rod near the wall. It has been found that if this angle is too small, strong secondary flows develop along the length of the control rod and interact with other vortices in the diffuser region, to produce the vibration driving force. The polygonal cross section in the post modifies the secondary flow to reduce the intensity of the interaction with the diffuser vortices.