Pollution abating, energy conserving glass manufacturing apparatus
US4248616A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 1979 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P40/57
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for preconditioning and preheating pellets of glass batch prior to heating and melting them in a furnace. Components of glass batch are mixed together and combined with water to form agglomerates, e.g., pellets. These agglomerates are supplied to a hopper through which hot combustion gases are passed and they are preheated to an elevated temperature in the hopper prior to entering the melting furnace, thereby resulting in a savings of substantial amounts of energy. Moisture is removed from the agglomerate prior to their being supplied to the hopper; hence, the tendency for the agglomerates to adhere to one another and form aggregates, or clinkers, is substantially controlled. For that purpose, the agglomerates are collected in a preconditioner having receptacles located above the bed of agglomerates in the hopper with the hot gases also passing through the agglomerates in the receptacles after passing through the bed in the hopper. After moisture is removed, the agglomerates are dropped from the receptacles onto the bed in the hopper. The agglomerates may be melted in a combustion fired melter or in an electrically powered melter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.