METHOD FOR MELTING GLASS-MAKING MATERIALS

• US 3,850,606 A
• Filed: 07/02/1973
• Issued: 11/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Owens-Illinois Glass Container, Inc. (O-I Glass, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Rough
• Inventors: Rough, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsay, Jr., Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schor, Kenneth M.
• Application Number:
  US05/375,532
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 65/178,134,179 13/6
• US Class Current: 65/178
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 3/00 Charging the melting furnaces
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/027 by passing an electric current between electrodes immersed in the glass bath, i.e. by direct resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/1875 of the screw or pump-action type

Abstract

A method and apparatus for rapidly melting glass-making materials wherein the glass-making materials are introduced into a chamber containing molten glass, heat is applied to the materials in the chamber by passage of an electric current between spaced electrodes while one of the electrodes is moved within the molten materials to agitate the materials to constantly move the location of the heating point through the batch glass-making materials and to enfold newly-added glassmaking materials into the molten glass within the chamber. The moving electrode moves in a generally circular path so that a portion of its path moves it out of and back into the molten glass.

Claims

1. A method of melting glassmaking materials to form a homogeneous molten glass having gaseous inclusions comprising the steps of:

applying heat to glass forming materials to produce a mass of molten glass;

adding glassmaking batch material to the molten glass;

applying additional heat to the molten glass by passing an electric current between at least one stationary electrode and a moving electrode to constantly change the location of the electric heating point to mix the added unmelted glassmaking material and distribute them rapidly through the molten glass so as to locate heat at the point of addition of the glassmaking materials;

continuing to move the electrode so as to draw the newly added batch rapidly under the surface of the existing molten glass and to agitate both the molten glass and added glassmaking materials wherein said moving electrode is moved in a generally circular path so that a portion of its path moves out of the molten glass, and back into the molten glass; and

contacting the unmelted glassmaking materials added to the surface of the batch and moving them rapidly downward, mixing them into said molten glass thereby rapidly melting the unmelted glass materials.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the movable electrode extends about the dimension of the mass of molten glass being heated to subject almost the volume of glass to homogenization activity and Joule heating effect.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is conducted in a volumetric size of about 2 feet by 2 feet by 1 1/2 feet in depth, the movable electrode outlining the glass mass about 50 times per minute.