Method and apparatus for feeding batch materials to a glass melting furnace

摘要

Apparatus for feeding batch materials to a glass melting furnace comprises hoppers 24, 25 feeding a pile of materials on to the molten glass G in a doghouse 15 through shoots 22, 23 with gates 26, 27, the said materials U being levelled by a blade 32 operated by a pneumatic engine 30, and pushed into the furnace by a blade 42 through an opening 19 normally covered by a door 20. An electric circuit, Fig. 4 (not shown), is described which controls the operation of the gates 26, 27 and levelling and pushing blades 32, 42 in timed sequence and which is provided with a manual override for separate control of these functions. The sequence may be as follows: gates 26, 27 are opened, discharging cullet from shoot 22 and raw batch materials from shoot 23, during which blade 32 makes a stroke across the doghouse and half-way back. Gates 26, 27 are then closed and blade 32 completes its return stroke. Thereafter blade 42 pushes the levelled mass into the furnace. The levelled mass may be given an angled push into the furnace, successive batches being pushed into opposite sides of the melting zone, Fig. 5 (not shown).