SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN A FOREHEARTH

摘要

SYSTEMS AND METHODS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN A GLASS FOREHEARTH (11). IN ONE IMPLEMENTATION, A SYSTEM INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE BURNER (24) DISPOSED IN FOREHEARTH, A MANIFOLD (22) COUPLED TO THE BURNER, A COMBUSTION FUEL SUPPLY (26) COUPLED TO THE BURNER, A COMBUSTION AIR BLOWER (20) FOR DELIVERING AMBIENT AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO THE MANIFOLD, AND A CONTROLLER (30) COUPLED TO THE BURNER FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF THE BURNER. THE SYSTEM MAY INCLUDE A TEMPERATURE SENSOR (36) OPERATIVELY COUPLED DOWNSTREAM OF THE BLOWER FOR PROVIDING TO THE CONTROLLER A TEMPERATURE SIGNAL INDICATIVE OF TEMPERATURE OF AIR DELIVERED TO THE MANIFOLD BY THE BLOWER. THE CONTROLLER MAY BE RESPONSIVE TO THE TEMPERATURE SIGNAL FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF THE BURNERS AS A FUNCTION OF CURRENT TEMPERATURE OF AIR FED TO THE MANIFOLD. OPERATION OF THE BURNER MAY ALSO BE CONTROLLED AS A FUNCTION OF AN AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURE OVER A PRECEDING TIME DURATION. THE MOST ILLUSTRATIVE DRAWING IS