Verfahren zur Aufrechterhaltung eines vorgewaehlten Niveaus eines in einem Speiser enthaltenen Koerpers aus geschmolzenem Glas und Vorrichtung zur Durchfuehrung des Verfahrens

摘要

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment for producing glass fibers in which the maintenance of a preselected head of a molten body of glass is critical in the control of fiber diameter and fiber quality. The feeder contains a molten body of glass and has orifice means formed therein for issuing molten streams of glass. The molten streams of glass are attenuated into glass fibers. A glass melter replenishes the body of molten glass in the feeder as molten glass is withdrawn from the feeder and formed into glass fibers. A probe is disposed for contact with the molten body of glass in the feeder. A source of electrical energy is connected to the probe and the molten body of glass to establish a potential difference between the probe and the molten glass. Current flow in the probe is detected and a detection voltage is supplied proportional to the detected current flow. A bucking voltage is supplied which has a magnitude substantially equal to the magnitude of the detection voltage when the probe is initially touched by the body of molten glass in the feeder. The detection and bucking voltages are compared to provide a level signal which is a measure of the level of the molten body in the feeder. The rate of replenishment of the molten body from the glass melting unit is responsive to the magnitude of the level signal.