Forehearth feeder tube lift system

摘要

A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal central axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm. The position of the support arm relative to the linear actuator is independently adjustable both longitudinally of the support arm and transversely of the support arm, and the support arm is rotatable with respect to the linear actuator when it is desired to replace a feeder tube carried thereby or the feeder bowl directly below it.