JPH0559849B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention generally relates to the maintenance of molten glass at a desired temperature in a feeding device of the type having a plunger reciprocating within a refractory tube which is rotated within a feeding vessel. It is related to doing things. More particularly, the present invention reduces heat losses and thereby more closely controls the temperature, and therefore the viscosity, of the molten glass within the supply vessel, thereby forming a molten glass at the outlet of the supply vessel. It involves heat shielding the upper end of the refractory tube to increase the consistency of the glass gob.

PRIOR ART PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE PRIOR ART INVENTION In a glass factory, molten glass is fed to a glassware forming machine through channels in a heated prefurnace, and glass gobs are fed to various parts of a typical glassware forming machine. For this purpose, a feeding device is provided at the downstream end of the prefurnace groove. The feed system includes a plurality of side-by-side vertically reciprocating refractory plungers, the lower end of each plunger being associated with an orifice generally formed in the bottom of the feed vessel for receiving molten glass from the prefurnace. ing. An annular refractory tube surrounds the plunger and extends into the glass body below, the bottom of which cooperates with an annular seating surface in the supply vessel to interrupt the flow of molten glass when the feeder is shut down. . During normal operation of the feeder, when this tube is raised to a predetermined height and rotated within the feed container, a passage is formed between the lower end of the tube and the container, and the molten glass flows through this passage. Flows through to the orifice. The refractory tube is supported for rotation about its own central axis within a vertically movable frame. The frame is generally provided with means for rotating the refractory tube, the means comprising an annular bevel gear coaxial with the refractory tube. Such a mechanism is described in some detail in US patent application Ser. Another U.S. patent application filed June 4, 1984 entitled "Electronic Glass Feed Plunger Actuation Mechanism"
No. 616,638 describes in some detail a mechanism for operating a vertically reciprocating refractory plunger. These two patent applications are incorporated into this invention.

The present invention relates to an improved heat shield that is mounted on the upper end of a refractory tube surrounding a vertically reciprocating plunger and that resists vertical movement of the plunger and rotational movement of the refractory tube. Designed to reduce heat loss from molten glass within the supply vessel without interference.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,023 discloses a molten glass dispensing apparatus having a refractory heat shield within a refractory tube that reduces heat loss by reducing the upper exposed portion of molten glass within the dispensing vessel. I'm letting you do it. However, with this prior art it was not possible to remove a piece of the cast refractory shield without first withdrawing the refractory plunger.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,631 shows a molten glass supply apparatus having a refractory thermal baffle within a refractory tube, which reduces the exposed area above the supply vessel to avoid excessive heat loss. are avoiding. However, this patent provides two unconnected thermal baffles along the plunger of unwieldy dimensions. Also, since these baffles were made solely of refractory material, they had to be designed to fit somewhat loosely within the rotating refractory tube itself.

The present invention represents an improvement over the prior art described in these patents, and also provides advantages when used in feeders of the type described in the aforementioned US patent applications. For example, the two prior art techniques described above both require different thermal baffles for different sized refractory tubes. The present invention avoids this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a molten glass supply apparatus having a refractory supply vessel or spout and a number of juxtaposed orifices formed in the outlet portion of the vessel, with several vertical orientations. The lower end of the reciprocating plunger cooperates with these orifices to produce a molten glass gob which is then delivered to a glass container product forming machine. A refractory tube is disposed within the supply container and surrounds the refractory lower portion of the plunger. The refractory tube is rotatably supported within a frame having an aperture therein, and the refractory tube may be provided with a plunger therein. Therefore,
The upper part of the plunger is fixed within a plunger support structure, and the plunger support structure causes vertical movement of the plunger in time relation to the movement of other parts of the glassware forming machine and other parts of the feeding apparatus. to produce glass gobs in a precisely controlled manner.

According to the invention, a generally tubular metallic sheath means is provided over the refractory tube, said sheath means having an opening therethrough having an area at least equal to the circular area of the interior of the refractory tube. Preferably, this sheathing means is made of two corresponding halves or half-shells so that it can be easily removed from its position in the frame over the refractory tube without the need to remove the plunger. A plurality of insulating semicircular segments are stacked in sets within the sheath means to a depth of at least approximately half the inner diameter of the refractory tube. Each insulating semicircular segment has a diametrically extending edge, the corresponding semicircular segment in a particular set having a diametrically extending edge adjacent to another diametrically extending edge. . That is, each segment in a set is the opposite of the other segments, and the segments are adjacent to each other along diametrically extending edges. Each such diametrically extending edge is recessed to accommodate a reciprocating plunger, usually juxtaposed within the feeding device. Preferably, these semicircular insulating segments are made of an insulating material, with the lowermost set of segments being made of a refractory material different from the refractory material provided on the parts of the feeder that are in direct contact with the molten glass. The metal sheath is also preferably made of multiple sections, with the top of each section forming an enlarged collar. The collar is received in an opening provided for the collar in a housing associated with the frame supporting the refractory tube. In this way, the heat shield of the present invention is conveniently supported by the frame provided for supporting the refractory tube and its housing. Furthermore, the heat shield does not interfere with the rotation of the refractory tube during normal operation of the feeder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings, in FIG. U.S. Patent Application No. 616638, dated 4th.
This corresponds to the "Plunger Actuation Mechanism of an Electronic Glass Feeding Device" disclosed in the No. 1999-2005 and incorporated in the present invention. As described in this U.S. patent application, glass supply plungers 12,12
is reciprocated vertically relative to an orifice formed in orifice ring 18 to form a mass of molten glass that is fed to a glass product forming machine (not shown). The molten glass moves from the prefurnace 14 toward the viewer in FIG.
The interior is filled with molten glass from the prefurnace 14 up to the level indicated by level 24. The front end 16 of the prefurnace 14 supports the supply container 22 and other parts of the supply mechanism described below.

The plunger actuating mechanism 10 includes a bracket 312
The casing 21 of the feed vessel 22 is of conventional configuration and is provided with a peripherally extending jib 20 for mounting a shearing mechanism (not shown) in accordance with conventional practice. It is being The front end of the bracket 52 of the prefurnace 14 supports a refractory tube actuation mechanism 27 which
It is also incorporated into the present invention, which is described in detail in US patent application Ser. The refractory tube is indicated generally at 26 in FIG. 1 and is constructed of refractory material, as are the supply container 22 and the lower end portions of the plungers 12,12. As a result, all materials that come into direct contact with the molten glass are made to withstand the temperatures of the molten glass. Refractory tube 26 normally rotates in the position shown. That is, the lower end of the tube 26 is connected to the supply container 2.
2 and above a particularly provided annular seating surface and at a slight distance from the seating surface, the molten glass can flow through said spacing towards the orifice of the orifice ring 18. . Tube 26 can also be lowered and sealed to prevent leakage of molten glass from the orifice as described in the above-referenced US patent application Ser. No. 655,502. The actual spacing between the lower end of tube 26 and the inside of supply vessel 22 determines the flow rate of molten glass into these orifices. The orifice ring 18 also comprises a refractory element which is held within a highly insulating material and surrounded by a shell-type protective housing in accordance with conventional practice.
Furthermore, the orifice ring 18 is mounted in a conventional manner on a pivotally mounted holder or frame such that the orifice ring support structure 32 can be removed from the pivot pin from the position shown in FIG. 1 when the orifice ring 18 is removed or replaced. 34 as the center of rotation, it can be rotated downward to the suspended position. A latching mechanism 30 is provided to secure the orifice ring support structure 32 in the position shown.

Plungers 12, 12 are plunger chuck 3
6, 36, the plunger chuck 36,
36 is attached to a plunger rear disc 40. The carrier disk 40 is mounted to a plunger holder or bungee yaw frame 42, as described in US Pat. No. 6,166,38. This Bunjiyo frame 42 is
It is secured to a bracket 44 connected to a mechanism provided within the housing 50 which moves the plungers 12, 12 up and down in time relation to the movement of the feeder and other parts of the glassware forming machine itself. It is something. Plungers 12, 12 are constructed and arranged to have lower ends that cooperate with the orifices of orifice ring 18 so that molten glass gobs are discharged from these orifices and delivered to individual sections of a conventional glassware forming machine. Ru. The refractory tube 26 rotates in the position shown in FIG. 1 to maintain the molten glass in a homogeneous condition as it moves from the prechannel (not shown) toward the orifice of the orifice ring 18. The temperature of the molten glass is directly related to its viscosity, and therefore, in the formation of glass gobs, the vertically reciprocating plungers 12, 12 are located at appropriate points in the supply container 22 where the glass gobs are formed. It is especially important to maintain the temperature at a constant temperature.

The present invention relates to heat-shielding the upper end of the fire-resistant tube 26, and the purpose of this heat shielding is to provide an opening between the upper end of the fire-resistant tube 26 and the plungers 12, 12 that reciprocate in the vertical direction. The purpose is to reduce heat loss from the molten glass within the refractory tube 26 as a result of heat radiating and convecting upwardly through the locations. In a presently preferred form, the improved heat shield of the present invention is located further above the upper end of the refractory tube 26 rather than within the refractory tube 26 as in the prior art; It is supported by a frame 60 and housing 58 structure containing means for rotating 26.

As described in the aforementioned U.S. patent application for the invention entitled "Folten Glass Ejector Container Refractory Tube Support Mechanism," the refractory tube mechanism is provided at the forward end 1 of the foreway 14.
6 bracket 52, and more particularly, a vertically extending rotating column 56 mounted on the support structure 54.
This allows the refractory tube support mechanism within the housing 58 to move up and down as described above. Means for rotating the refractory tube 26 is provided within the housing 58 and is more particularly supported on a horizontally extending frame 60, which is described in some detail in the aforementioned U.S. patent application.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of this frame 60, which supports an annular bearing 104 in which a refractory pipe check means is rotatably mounted.
This chuck means is generally designated by 72 in FIG.
As shown, it has a cooperating annular member which is axially clamped against a flange 26a specifically provided on the outside of the refractory tube 26.
In FIG. 2, an annular bevel gear 90 is mounted on an annular bearing 104 for rotating refractory tube 26 in response to rotation of a drive gear, not shown, but described in some detail in the aforementioned U.S. patent application. . FIG. 2 shows a portion of the housing means, particularly relating to the frame 60 for the refractory tube support mechanism. This housing 5
8 defines an opening to allow easy removal of the refractory tube 26 for replacement or repair. 3
One of the eyebolts is designated 80 in FIG. 2 for this purpose. Still referring to FIG. 2, a vertically reciprocating refractory plunger 1
Positions 2 and 12 are also shown along with the heat shield described below.

In the presently preferred form, the heat shield is provided over the refractory tube 26 and sheathed from a housing 58 associated with the refractory tube support mechanism.
The sheath means 200 is generally made of tubular metal and consists of a main body of the sheath means 200 and an upper collar portion 202 supporting the main body of the sheath means 200. The tubular sheath means 200 also includes a suspended portion 204 having a generally cylindrical external shape and mounted within the refractory tube chuck mechanism 72.
This suspended portion 204 of the sheath means 200 defines a generally cylindrical inner diameter forming a cross-sectional area at least as large as the internal circular area of the refractory tube 26 itself. This inner diameter of the suspended portion 204 is the diameter of the refractory tube 26
somewhat larger than the internal cross-sectional area of . For purposes of comparison, dimension D in FIG. 2 indicates the inner diameter of refractory tube 26 and dimension A indicates the inner diameter of portion 204 of sheath means 200. This suspended portion 20 of the sheath means 200
The axial dimension of 4 is preferably at least approximately equal to half of dimension A, this geometry being important for the desired reduction of heat losses in this part of the feed device.

Referring now to FIG. 3, this figure is a vertical sectional view taken along a line oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the paper of FIG. 2 (line 3--3 in FIG. 4). In the figure, the tubular sheath means 200, in particular its suspended portion 204, has at least two, preferably four
Two insulating layers 210, 210 (each consisting of a pair of semicircular segments) are provided. The lowermost insulating layer 212 (each consisting of a pair of semi-circular segments) is preferably made of the same insulating material used for the refractory tube 26 and plunger 12. The total height dimension B of all of these insulating layers 210 and 212
Note that approximately equal to at least half the inner diameter of the refractory tube 26. The insulating layer 210 is provided in a feeder or prefurnace 14 that does not come into direct contact with the molten glass.
It is preferable to use a non-refractory material with excellent insulation properties. However, the lowermost insulating layer 212 is preferably made of a refractory material.

To explain the sheath means 200 in more detail, FIG.
The configuration of the tubular sheath means 200 consisting of a, 200b is shown in plan view. 200 such half shells
a and 200b are opposite to each other. One such half-shell 200a is shown in FIG. 5, in which collar-forming portion 202 is attached to suspended portion 204
extending outwardly beyond the suspended portion 20;
4 includes radially inwardly extending walls 206 that cooperate with each other to engage cutouts in the semicircular insulating layers 210, 210 for positioning or indexing thereof. It is clear that the device is formed. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, four sets of insulating layers 210, each consisting of a pair of semicircular segments, are superimposed on a lowermost set of insulating layers 212, each consisting of a pair of semicircular segments. Separate layers 210, 21 of suitable thickness, if desired.
2 (segments), these layers 2 are independent of the half shells 200a and 200b of the sheath.
10, 212 can be easily taken out and removed.

Effects of the Invention With the structure and arrangement as described above, in a glass product supplying apparatus of the type in which several plungers are all arranged in parallel as described in the above-mentioned US patent application, the upper end of the fireproof tube can be used. The heat shield provided on the device can be easily removed. Current heat shields are generally made of refractory materials that have poor insulation properties and are prone to cracking. Using the set of separated portions or segments (layers 210, 212) in a heat shield as in the present invention,
It can be removed when replacing or repairing various parts of the feeding device, resulting in a preferred and very convenient construction. The heat shield of the present invention does not need to be bolted or otherwise secured to the top end of the refractory tube as in the prior art heat shields described above. This improved geometry of the heat shield facilitates repair and maintenance of the refractory tubing system. Furthermore, the insulating elements 210, 21
2 itself is a metal sheath or sheath structure 200
The sheath 200 can fit tightly into an aperture specifically provided in the housing 58 for the refractory tube support frame without being attached to the refractory tube support frame. Furthermore, the heat shield provides improved control of the temperature of the molten glass and thus the viscosity of the glass to accurately control the weight of the glass gob. It is advantageous to produce glass products from these glass gobs by improving the uniformity of the glass gob products, and of course by positioning the heat shield as described above.
Energy costs in the glass factory itself can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially cut away and partially cut away, showing a heat shield attached to a feeder of the type described in the aforementioned U.S. patent application, in accordance with one embodiment of the molten glass feeder of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged partially cutaway view of the fire-resistant tube and plunger in the heat shield, and Figure 3 is 3 of Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 4-4 of Figure 2, and the relative cross-sectional views of Figures 2 and 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the two half-shells forming the sheathing means of the heat shield. 12...Plunger, 22...Container, 26...
Fireproof pipe, 58... Housing means, 60... Frame, 200... Sheath means, 200a, 20
0b...Half shell, 202...Color means, 210,
212...Insulating layer (segment).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A container in which several orifices are arranged in parallel, a refractory lower part that cooperates with each orifice to form a glass lump, and a plunger that reciprocates in the vertical direction. , rotatably supported on a frame having a hole surrounding a fire-resistant lower portion of the plunger and accommodating a fire-resistant tube and the plunger having an upper portion within the fire-resistant tube and above the fire-resistant tube. (a) a generally tubular metal member disposed above the refractory tube and having a through opening having a circular area at least as large as the inner area of the refractory tube; (b) a plurality of insulating, semicircular segments stacked in sets within the sheath means to a depth of at least about half the diameter of the circular opening; (c) each of the segments has a diametrically extending edge adjacent to another segment of opposite hand in the set to which it belongs, said adjacent edge being cut out to accommodate said plunger. . 2. characterized in that the tubular sheath means is formed by two abutting halves or half-shells, such that they and the semicircular insulating segment can be removed without the need to remove the plunger. A supply device according to claim 1. 3. At least two sets of said semicircular segments are provided in stacked relationship within said tubular sheath means, the lowermost set being of refractory material. feeding device. 4. A feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that there are at least two sets of said semicircular segments, the lowermost set being made of refractory material. 5 said half-piece or half-shell has an upper portion forming an enlarged collar portion and housing means for a frame of said refractory tube, said housing means comprising said refractory tube and said housing means; 3. A feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a through opening forming a gap opening for removing said collar portion received and supported by said collar portion. 6. Said collar means includes an inwardly extending peripheral portion, said peripheral portion being shaped to act as a convenient part for manual removal of said half or half shell, supported on said frame housing means. 3. A feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the feeding device is arranged at a distance above the portion.