Method and apparatus for melting glass-making materials
First Claim
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1. A method of continuously mixing and melting glass-making materials which comprises:
- heating glass-making materials in a chamber to provide a pool of molten glass;
positioning a plurality of electrodes within said chamber;
positioning a rotatable bladed stirring device in said molten glass;
applying electric current between said stirring device and said electrodes to provide a Joule heating effect in the molten glass between the stirring device and the electrodes in said chamber;
rotating said stirring device in a circular path in a vertical plane, about a horizontal axis at a rate sufficient to produce a vortex in the glass at said vertical axis;
introducing additional cold glass forming batch materials continuously into said chamber and into said vortex;
continuing the application of electric current to mix and melt said added batch materials rapidly by the combined action of the already heated molten glass in the chamber and the stirring device; and
continuously removing the molten glass from the chamber, said molten glass having gaseous inclusions therein.
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Abstract
A method 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 glass-making materials into the molten glass within the chamber.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of continuously mixing and melting glass-making materials which comprises:
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heating glass-making materials in a chamber to provide a pool of molten glass; positioning a plurality of electrodes within said chamber; positioning a rotatable bladed stirring device in said molten glass; applying electric current between said stirring device and said electrodes to provide a Joule heating effect in the molten glass between the stirring device and the electrodes in said chamber; rotating said stirring device in a circular path in a vertical plane, about a horizontal axis at a rate sufficient to produce a vortex in the glass at said vertical axis; introducing additional cold glass forming batch materials continuously into said chamber and into said vortex; continuing the application of electric current to mix and melt said added batch materials rapidly by the combined action of the already heated molten glass in the chamber and the stirring device; and continuously removing the molten glass from the chamber, said molten glass having gaseous inclusions therein. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for melting glass comprising:
- a melting chamber;
a top wall covering said chamber, a generally elongate opening formed in said top covering; means for introducing glass-making materials into the upper portion of said chamber; at least one stationary electrode positioned in said chamber adjacent the lower end so it is submerged in the glass when it is melted; an electrically conductive stirrer having a substantial horizontal portion adjacent the lower end thereof; means mounting said stirrer in depending relation to said chamber with its upper end extending out of said chamber through the opening in the top covering; means connected to the upper end of said stirrer for moving said stirrer in a orbital path in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis through the molten glass; and means connected to said stirrer and stationary electrode for applying current between the stationary electrode and the movable stirrer. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
- a melting chamber;
Specification