Abstract: A glass-melting furnace is provided with means for sensing the batch in the furnace. More specifically, the sensor determines the level or height of the batch in the furnace without physical contact therewith and with the aid of this value, the thickness of the batch can be determined. With the batch thickness known, the power input for the electrodes of the furnace can be changed or the supply of batch to the furnace can be altered to maintain the batch thickness at a constant value in the furnace or to maintain the glass level constant.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing an ingot includes a rotatable housing with an inner surface defining an opening therethrough along the rotational axis of the housing. The housing is rotated about the rotational axis. The housing includes a layer of insulating material located between the inner and outer surfaces of the housing. Particulate material is deposited along the inner surface while the housing is rotating and the particulate material is heated above its melting temperature while the housing is rotating, the rotational movement holding the molten particulate material in place by centrifugal force on the inner surface for forming an ingot.

Abstract: In a process for producing molten glass in a generally cylindrical continuously rotating chamber comprising the following steps:(a) feeding inorganic raw materials, including silica in major proportion, 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; and(c) 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 whereby the solidified layer essentially prevents impurities from the inner surface of the chamber from entering the melt; and(d) withdrawing molten glass,the improvement comprising heating the silica prior to step (a) to a temperature in the range of about 50

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing glass, and apparatus for effecting same, which comprises passing flue gases from a glass melting furnace through a bed of agglomerates of glass forming batch materials so as to heat the agglomerates to a temperature less than that at which they form an aggregated mass, cooling the flue gases as they pass through the bed with a heat exchanger positioned in the bed, and then melting the heated batch materials in a fossil fuel fired melter to form molten glass. The heat transfer medium of the heat exchanger may then be transported to a different location and the increased energy therein employed for a beneficial purpose.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically wetting and mixing glass batch immediately prior to its introduction into a glass melting furnace. This apparatus is an axillary extension of a typical glass furnace charger hopper and provides for complete glass batch wetting and mixing immediately adjacent the glass melting furnace so as to minimize the possibility of batch "dryout" and similarly thereby minimize atmospheric dust pollution and other associated problems. Mixing action is continuous and the apparatus is arranged such that a fluid, normally water, is added to and mixed with the batch responsive to charger operation. The apparatus is structured in such fashion to emphasize mixing rather than material conveyance, thus reducing wear upon the structural elements while at the same time providing complete and uniform wetting of the batch within same.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing waste glass strands and/or fibrous filaments which are produced in the course of operating a glass fiber forming plant for subsequent reuse as batch ingredients for a glass fiber forming process. The method described involves controlled thermal treatment of the waste glass strands and/or filaments to produce particulate glass which can be recycled to a fiber glass forming furnace. The reprocessing of waste glass strands and/or filaments reduces substantially the raw material cost involved in feeding glass batch ingredients to a glass fiber forming operation. Apparatus for accomplishing the reprocessing of the waste glass filaments and/or strands in accordance with the method disclosed is also described.

Abstract: A batch material feeder for an electrically heated open-top refractory furnace, particularly a circular furnace, wherein the feeder includes a trough holding batch material and mounted over the furnace top, there being a rotatable agitator within the trough for moving batch material over discharge openings in the trough bottom, so as to deposit the batch material over the top of the molten mass in a manner that provides for a thin uniform layer of batch while assuring proper control of the thickness of the deposited layer.

Abstract: A method of inclusion melting of glass with radioactive components and a furnace for carrying out the method. Radioactive components are fed in the form of an aqueous suspension or of a slurry into a furnace from above in combination with a mixture for the melt forming of glass, or the mixture for the melt forming being formed from the radioactive components. The molten mass of glass and radioactive components is heated by passing electrical current directly therethrough, wherein the mass flow takes place solely vertically from top to bottom.

Abstract: Substantially gas free raw materials are melted to form molten glass by urging a bed of particulate materials toward a resistance heating member. The solid materials are urged into close proximity with the resistance heater and, at most, a thin film of molten glass is maintained on the heater plate. The heater plate contains one or more passages through which the molten glass flows into a heated reservoir in which the glass achieves the requisite homogeneity.

Abstract: A method of premelting the raw materials for glass, which comprises burning a fuel by atomizing it within a combustion chamber while blowing combustion air into said combustion chamber so as to swirl along the inner wall thereof, feeding the raw materials for glass to said combustion chamber to effect partial premelting thereof, letting the thus premelted raw materials together with the combustion gas flow out from the lower part of the combustion chamber by way of a downwardly inclined duct, separating the premelted raw materials from the combustion gas, leading the premelted raw materials thus separated into a melting furnace, and utilizing the exhaust gas generated in the combustion chamber and/or the melting furnace effectively.

Abstract: A powdery substance in suspension state is heated with the high-temperature combustion waste gas exhausted from a glass tank furnace, and the air for combustion is heated with the thus heated powder substance. When the powdery substance employed is a raw material for preparing glass, the raw materials for preparing glass and the air for combustion to be supplied to the glass tank furnace are both heated therewith thereby contributing to effective recovery of the heat of the combustion waste gas.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for supplying glass to glass melters, the glass specifically being glass bodies in the form of marbles or balls. The marbles are fed by gravity from a hopper to melting units therebelow through flexible supply chutes. Between the hopper and the supply chutes are ejector chutes for ejecting pieces of broken marbles prior to reaching the flexible supply chutes, to avoid jamming therein. The ejector chute has at least one elongate opening extending the length thereof and of a size to pass through broken marbles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melting mineral materials, particularly vitrifiable materials, for the manufacture of glass in which the materials to be melted are supplied in the form of finely divided solid elements with each element containing the totality of the components, in their proper proportions, necessary for the formation of the glass. These materials are deposited onto a thin molten layer of the same material formed on a hearth. The molten layer is fed along the hearth and heaters produce an intense heating of the materials to produce the melting thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing a dielectric optical waveguide having minimal attenuation characteristics comprises a double crucible in a closed atmosphere container with glass rod supply means and atmosphere supply means.

Abstract: An installation for heating starting materials intended for the melting of glass includes a melting furnace and a preheater for the starting materials which is arranged downstream of the melting furnace and to which a pipe is connected for from the melting furnace introducing the hot residual gases from the furnace.

Abstract: A feeder conduit is disclosed for conveying molten glass from a forehearth of a glass furnace to a glass forming machine. The feeder conduit includes an elongated conduit which receives molten glass from the forehearth and delivers the molten glass to an inlet of a bowl-shaped container. The container has an orifice in its bottom for withdrawing the molten glass therefrom and a vertical cylinder disposed within the container and above the orifice. The cylinder and side wall of the container opposite the inlet of the container define a semi-annular channel therebetween and a first electrode is inserted in the molten glass upstream of said cylinder and a second electrode is inserted in the molten glass within the semi-annular channel. The first and second electrodes are offset from the centerline of the feeder conduit. As the molten glass flows through the inlet in the container, around the cylinder and through the semi-annular channel, an electric current passes between the electrodes to heat the molten glass.

Abstract: A marble feed system is disclosed for feeding glass marbles into a marble melt glass fiber forming bushing. The system comprises a storage container or hopper, a marble pre-melter, a glass fiber forming bushing, and a chute connecting the container or hopper to the pre-melter. The chute is specifically designed to prevent blockages of glass marbles due to bridging, oversized marbles and broken marbles during feeding. The novel design enables pure gravity flow of glass marbles without the need for external vibration of the feed system or other means of force feeding the marbles through the system.

Abstract: A method of melting the raw materials for preparing glass, which method comprises feeding powdery or granular raw materials for preparing glass successively into flames jetting out of burners along the sloped furnace bed of a melting furnace, letting said raw materials fall onto the furnace bed at a location away from the position of the inlet for raw materials while heating them with said flames as well as the combustion gas, melting the raw materials for glass that land on the furnace bed by heating with said flames, and pouring the thus melted raw materials into a glass tank furnace from the side of the melting furnace where the burners are provided.

Abstract: The disclosed invention pertains to a process for melting glass in which scrap glass fibers containing carbonaceous material to provide a carbon content of 0.4%-0.04% in a batch is combined with batch materials in which the scrap amounts to 5%-25% by the weight of the batch. The batch is melted under oxidizing conditions and the resultant melt is used to form glass fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging an electric glass furnace having a bottom, first and second opposing sidewalls, and first and second opposing end walls. The apparatus includes hoppers for receiving glass batch from a source and for discharging the glass batch into the furnace. Each of the hoppers has an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end extending along the upper edge of one of the end walls of the furnace. One of the hoppers extends inwardly from the first sidewall along the edge and the other one of the hoppers extends inwardly from the second sidewall along the edge with the hoppers spaced from each other along the edge. A pusher drum, rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, is associated with each of the hoppers. Each of the drums is parallel to the edge but spaced therefrom with the outlet end of the associated hopper therebetween. The drums are substantially axially aligned and axially spaced from each other and from the respective sidewall from which the associated drum extends.

Abstract: In the art of manufacturing alkaline glasses in electric resistance furnaces, improved results are obtained by use of a porous insulating blanket formed from granulated or aggregated raw batch and by conforming the interior of the furnace to the currents within the melt and permitting the formed gaseous components to escape the rough the porous insulating blanket.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for recovering waste heat from the exhaust of a combustion-heated glass melting furnace and transferred by heat pipes to an enclosure in which incoming glass batch materials are preheated prior to being fed to the furnace for melting. The batch materials are efficiently preheated with the waste heat without permitting direct contact between the exhaust effluent and the batch materials so that the entrainment and discharge of batch dust with the effluent is avoided.

Abstract: The attenuation in a dielectric optical waveguide can be reduced by the following techniques:1. Surrounding the double crucible during the drawing operation by a non-oxidizing atmosphere.2. Feeding glass rod into the melt at a slow rate.3. Guiding glass rod into the melt so that movement of the glass rod transverse to the melt surface is inhibited.4. Melting the glass in the double crucible under vacuum.

Abstract: This invention relates to a furnace for the melting of glass. The furnace comprises means defining an opening through which solid state batch material may be delivered into the furnace chamber and to enable the rate of withdrawal of glass to be varied without substantial alteration in the temperature of the body of molten glass, which is exposed for the reception of batch material. Thus the area of contact between the body of molten glass and the batch may be varied, to vary the rate at which the batch material is melted.

Abstract: In the operation of a regenerative glass melting furnace to which glass batch materials are either continuously or intermittently fed as a layer onto the surface of molten glass in the furnace, a plow blade is periodically forced transversely across the width of the furnace at a location such that transverse grooves or depressions are plowed in the floating layer of glass batch materials. This provides for a floating layer of glass batch which is sufficiently contoured to efficiently receive heat from overhead heaters, such as flames from burners, in order to efficiently melt the batch making molten glass for forming.

Abstract: A method of and a glass furnace for the melting of a raw batch of glass, in the form of pellets distributed in a thin, uniform layer over a glass melt by a rotor arranged in the roof of the glass furnace, with air being injected into the glass melt. The melting process is accelerated and the homogeneity of the glass melt is improved.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for thermally intermixing, blending and homogenizing additive constituents into a molten host glass composition as it flows through a forehearth channel. The additive composition in solid or molten form, is introduced into a thermally rising flow of molten host glass and thermally intermixed therein by successive descending and rising thermal currents.

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.

Abstract: A method for dyeing a glass stream whereby the stream is heated electrically during upward flow, thereafter passed horizontally with a free surface formed atop the stream, adding color frits dyes or the like to the horizontal stream, mechanically agitating the stream during subsequent vertical flow and flowing the stream thereafter upwards for further treatment or processing.

Abstract: Unmelted glass materials floating along the surface of a pool of molten glass in a glass melting furnace are broken up from a continuous batch blanket or floating logs of batch into smaller logs and are forced downwardly into the molten glass and mixed with the molten glass in order to enhance the rate at which the unmelted glass batch materials are melted and reacted to form additional molten glass.

Abstract: This invention embraces a method of and apparatus for processing heat-softenable fiber-forming material, such as glass, involving treatment of a surface of a feeder from which flow streams of the heat-softened glass through the establishment of an environment at the surface in which a heat-decomposable gas is heat decomposed providing a gas resulting from the decomposition of a character promoting separation of the glass from the surface thereby minimizing or eliminating the tendency for the material to flood at the feeder surface, effecting pressure through the heat-softened glass in a supply chamber, transferring glass from the chamber to the stream feeder, and effecting pressure through the heat-softened glass in the feeder to prevent or eliminate permeation or filtering of the gas formed by heat decomposition through the material of the feeder into the softened glass thereby enhancing the uniformity of glass streams flowing from the feeder.

Abstract: A glass batch feeder for an electrically-heated, glass-melting furnace is provided. The furnace typically includes a glass melting tank with electrodes immersed therein and with a batch feeder extending across the tank and movable back and forth from one end to the other to supply a layer of glass batch over molten glass in the tank. The batch is deposited gently on the top of the batch layer and in a positive, uniform manner to assure proper control of the thickness of the layer. The feeder includes a hopper and a rotatable distributor which intercepts batch from the hopper and deposits it in uniform increments onto the batch layer.

Abstract: In the making of glass containing Na.sub.2 O as an oxide constituent, sodium silicate water solution ("water glass") is used as a batch ingredient to supply a fraction, but only a minor fraction, of the Na.sub.2 O content. Conventional sodium-containing batch materials supply the bulk of the Na.sub.2 O content. Such use of the water glass has been found to improve the batch flow pattern in the glass melting furnace and thereby to increase batch homogeneity. Improvements in seed, cord and production efficiency ("percent pack") are attained.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for advancing particulate material, such as glass batch, to a receiver having an opening to receive the material, in which a distributing arm is mounted with respect to the opening to extend radially from an inner end to an outer end in a generally horizontal plane. The arm is rotatable about a vertically disposed axis adjacent its inner end and has a trough extending along its length to receive the particulate material. A roller mounted on the arm adjacent its outer end supports the arm and rides about the periphery of the opening during rotation of the arm about is inner end. This action of the roller also actuates conveyor means within the trough of the arm to advance the material along the arm from which it is discharged.

Abstract: A glass making furnace having a preheater and recycling structure including a tubular housing having a lower gas receiving stack section, a top in the form of an inverted cone, a glass batch pellet containing intermediate section, having a lower portion over the cone and about the intermediate section, gas ports in the side of the cone, shield means over the ports, a discharge valve in the lower portion below the cone part, a hot gas stack extending over the upper portion of the pellet section, a fan or hot gas ejector at the top of the stack, a damper above the fan or hot gas ejector connecting with a pressure controller within the furnace for maintaining the pressure in the furnace slightly above atmospheric, an inlet valve outwardly of the upper portion of the pellet section to control the entrance of the pellets, a regenerator on each side of the melting section and port and burner means communicating with each regenerator, a reversing valve connected with the regenerators and the melting section, and a p

Abstract: Glass tablets which are to be introduced seriatim into an elongated melting chamber of a crucible having orifices for extrusion of glass filaments are stored in a magazine and are fed onto the first section of a first vibrating trough whose sections have different inclinations. The last section of the first trough discharges tablets into the receptacle of a weighing device which accumulates a predetermined number of tablets and thereupon discharges the accumulated batch of tablets onto the first section of a second vibrating trough the last section of which discharges tablets into an elongated hopper registering with the open top of the melting chamber. At least the last section of the second trough is inclined downwardly toward the hopper to such an extent that tablets leaving the preceding section of the second trough are accelerated during travel in the last section and enter the hopper at timely spaced intervals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of melting glass, whereby in a glass melting furnace having electrodes positioned in a plurality of levels or planes the glass is melted in a vertical passage and thereafter discharged via an outlet passage at the bottom of the furnace, while the glass stream, after its upward flow, flows vertically downwards under mechanical agitation, thereafter to flow upwards for further processing or treatment. The glass stream may be additionally heated by electrical energy during its upward flow prior to the agitation.

Abstract: In a continuous glass melting furnace, a pair of substantially horizontally and longitudinally extending barrier rods are provided just beneath the surface of the molten glass closely adjacent to the sides of the floating batch blanket so as to maintain the batch blanket spaced from the sidewalls of the furnace.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding material to a glass melting tank comprises a batch material feed system and a cullet feed system. A first control unit controls the rate of the batch feed and a second control unit controls the cullet feed rate. One of the control units receives a signal dependant on the glass level in the tank and thereby controls the rate of one feed system in dependance on the glass level. A ratio control unit is provided to adjust the other control unit so the two feed systems operate at a predetermined ratio of feed rates.

Abstract: A glass making furnace having a preheater and recycling structure including a tubular housing having a lower gas receiving stack section, a top in the form of an inverted cone, a glass batch pellet containing intermediate section, having a lower portion over the cone and about the intermediate section, gas ports in the side of the cone, shield means over the ports, a discharge valve in the lower portion below the cone part, a hot gas stack extending over the upper portion of the pellet section, a fan or hot gas ejector at the top of the stack, a damper above the fan or hot gas ejector connecting with a pressure controller within the furnace for maintaining the pressure in the furnace slightly above atmospheric, an inlet valve outwardly of the upper portion of the pellet section to control the entrance of the pellets, a regenerator on each side of the melting section and port and burner means communicating with each regenerator, a reversing valve connected with the regenerators and the melting section, and a p