Electric melting of solidified glass in melting units
First Claim
1. A method of melting solidified glass in a submerged throat of a glass melting furnace comprising providing at least a first electrode in the melter chamber supply slot, providing a second electrode in the covered submerged throat, heating glass about said first electrode to a conductive condition around said first electrode and supplying electric energy between said first electrode and said second electrode to establish a Joule effect conductive path therebetween to more fully melt the glass therebetween, subsequent electrodes adjacent said second electrode along the length of the covered submerged throat, sequentially supplying electric energy between said first electrode and subsequent electrodes along said submerged throat to sequentially thaw the solidified glass by conduction of heat from the region between the first electrode and second electrode until the glass around the subsequent electrodes become conductive and electric power for Joule effect heating can be applied to subsequent electrodes in the submerged throat until all of the glass in the submerged throat is molten.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for electrically melting solidified glass in difficult to reach regions of a glass melting furnace not readily accessible with fossil fuel heating means and, more particularly, to an electrode arrangement for electrically heating solidified glass in difficult to melt regions such as a submerged outlet throat between a furnace melter section and the riser through which the glass is supplied in production.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A method of melting solidified glass in a submerged throat of a glass melting furnace comprising providing at least a first electrode in the melter chamber supply slot, providing a second electrode in the covered submerged throat, heating glass about said first electrode to a conductive condition around said first electrode and supplying electric energy between said first electrode and said second electrode to establish a Joule effect conductive path therebetween to more fully melt the glass therebetween, subsequent electrodes adjacent said second electrode along the length of the covered submerged throat, sequentially supplying electric energy between said first electrode and subsequent electrodes along said submerged throat to sequentially thaw the solidified glass by conduction of heat from the region between the first electrode and second electrode until the glass around the subsequent electrodes become conductive and electric power for Joule effect heating can be applied to subsequent electrodes in the submerged throat until all of the glass in the submerged throat is molten.
- 5. An electrode arrangement for melting solidified glass in a submerged outlet throat of a glass melting furnace comprising a series of spaced apart electrodes including a first electrode at the entry to the throat and a last electrode at the exit of the throat, at least one additional electrode in said throat between said first and said last electrode, means for melting glass around said first electrode to provide molten glass between said first electrode and said additional electrode, electric energy means for establishing a Joule effect current therebetween for melting glass about said additional electrode to provide molten glass for establishment of a conductive path between said additional electrode and its next adjacent electrode, sequentially applying electric energy means between said first electrode and said next adjacent electrode until a molten glass conductive path is completed through the submerged throat between said first electrode and said last electrode.
Specification