Manufacturing glass with improved silicon carbide bushing operation

摘要

An improvement is provided in apparatus of the type which comprises a glass feeder adapted to discharge a stream of glass, the feeder including a terminal or tab on each of opposed side wall portions and means are provided, including electrical connectors respectively connected to one or the other of the terminals for passing an electrical current through the bushing so as to resistively heat it and maintain it at an elevated temperature; the improvement resides in employing a bushing essentially comprising silicon carbide and locating a graphitic material intermediate the respective terminal and connector and in this way inhibiting the formation of silica to thereby provide a bushing with a longer operating life.