JP6761425B2 - Equipment and methods for adjusting molten glass - Google Patents

Description

Cross-reference of related applications

This application is based on its contents and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, US Code No. 35, No. 62 / 129,210, filed March 6, 2015. Claim the benefit of priority under Article 119 of the Patent Act.

The present disclosure relates to a device for injecting gas (eg, bubbling) into the molten glass in order to regulate the molten glass.

The production of glass on a commercial scale is typically carried out in a refractory ceramic melting vessel, where the raw material (batch) is added to the melting vessel and the batch undergoes a chemical reaction to produce the molten glass. It is heated to the temperature at which it is produced. Several methods can be used to heat the batch, including gas burning burners, electric currents, or both.

Adjustments to the molten glass, such as clarification and homogenization, can be made at certain parts of the melt vessel structure or within other vessels located downstream of the melt vessel and connected to the melt vessel by conduits. In certain processes, bubbling of gas into the molten glass is used to agitate the molten glass and improve its homogenization, or to manipulate the redox state of batch components such as finings. Can be done.

Conventional bubblers often use ceramic tubing, which, on at least one surface, is directly exposed to the hot corrosive environment provided by molten glass. Therefore, ceramic tubing exhibits significant corrosion, starting from its exposed surface. For hard glass typically used in the manufacture of optical articles such as glass for display substrates, the typical temperature range of the molten glass in the melting vessel is from about 1500 ° C to about 1550 ° C. The temperature of the molten glass in the clarification vessel is quite high, which can be close to 1700 ° C. In addition, the molten glass may solidify, or the condensate may block the outlet of the passage and stop the formation of bubbles, or it may form an insoluble crystalline phase. Defects and / or blockages may also be present in the bubbler passage. In addition, the gas supplied to generate bubbles leaks from the bottom of the bubbler support between the platinum clad and the support, which reduces gas pressure and reduces process stability. there is a possibility. If such adverse consequences occur, the bubbler needs to be replaced.

Bubbler is a viable and inexpensive solution that improves glass quality and may also improve the clarity of the glass. However, due to the problems mentioned above in high temperature operation, corrections are needed to address the current shortage.

Bubblers for injecting air bubbles into a container containing molten glass within the volume defined by the container have been used for a long time, for example, to enhance the melting of glass. For example, the bubbling process can increase natural convection during the melting process, thereby adding homogeneity to the molten glass and the glass articles made from it. However, molten glass can be highly corrosive, and the combination of high temperatures and corrosive environments can cause severe damage to ordinary bubblers in a relatively short period of time.

Therefore, one aspect of a device for adjusting molten glass, including a container containing an internal volume, is described herein. The bubbler extends into the volume of the vessel, the bubbler being a sleeve containing an internal passage extending through the sleeve and a nozzle fixed to the first end of the sleeve, an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. It includes a nozzle including an internal passage extending between the and, and a capillary member including a plurality of capillary passages extending through the capillary member. Sleeves and nozzles may contain platinum. The capillary member is slidably engaged within the internal passage of the sleeve. The nozzle may include a recess located within the internal passage of the sleeve.

The device may further include a cooling device for cooling a portion of the device. In addition, the threaded member may be connected to the cooling device. The threaded member can also be connected to the sleeve. However, the cooling device does not directly cool that part of the bubbler (sleeve and nozzle) extending into the molten glass.

In an exemplary embodiment, the positioning assembly may be rotatably connected to a threaded member, the capillary member may be connected to a gas supply tube, which in turn is positioned around the threaded member. The rotation of the assembly rotatably connects the positioning device to the positioning assembly so that it translates along the threaded member. The movement of the positioning assembly along the threaded member with the gas supply tube rotatably connected to the positioning assembly and the capillary member connected to the gas supply tube causes the capillary member to move within the sleeve, thereby moving the capillary member. Provides the ability to compensate for corrosion of capillary members.

To limit the size of the bubbles produced by the bubbler, the nozzle may include an outer shape that tapers towards the outlet orifice. The internal passage of the nozzle may also include an intermediate chamber having a diameter greater than the diameter of the outlet orifice, which serves as a location for gas to be supplied from many passages of the capillary member to be joined.

To prevent the nozzle from separating from the sleeve due to gas pressure in the nozzle, the nozzle may be secured to the sleeve by peripheral welding around the seam between the nozzle and the sleeve. In addition, or alternative, the nozzle may also be secured to the sleeve by multiple plug welds located around the periphery of the sleeve. Preferably, both seam welding and plug welding are used to secure the nozzle to the sleeve.

At least a portion of the sleeve, in particular the portion of the sleeve located within the chiller, may include a ceramic coating. The ceramic coating helps prevent diffusion welding of the sleeve to the inner wall of the chiller in the event of long-term contact between the inner wall of the chiller and the sleeve. In addition, at least a portion of the chiller may include a ceramic coating to prevent corrosion (eg oxidation) of the chiller.

The device may further include a sealing gasket located within the threaded member between the capillary member and the threaded member. The sealing gasket is placed on a seal lip located in the internal passage of the threaded member, for example, a fitting such as a threaded joint presses the sleeve against the sealing gasket through a flange on the sleeve. .. The gasket includes a passage through which the sleeve extends, which further seals around the sleeve, thereby passing the gas through the passage of the threaded member and within the gap between the sleeve and the capillary member. It is possible to prevent gas, such as atmospheric gas, from leaking into the molten glass and vice versa.

The container can be a melting container, a clarification container, or a cooling container. The container may also be any one or more coupling conduits.

The output orifice of the nozzle includes an orifice area, which is the cross-sectional area of the orifice in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the nozzle, and each capillary of the plurality of capillary lines includes an output orifice having an orifice area. The sum of the orifice areas of multiple capillary lines can be substantially equal to the orifice area of the nozzle output orifice. Therefore, the volumetric flow rate of the gas from the outlet orifice of the nozzle substantially coincides with the volumetric flow rate of the gas from the capillary member.

In another aspect, a device for adjusting molten glass is disclosed, including a container with an internal volume and a bubbler extending into that volume. The bubbler passes through a sleeve that includes an internal passage that extends through the sleeve, a nozzle that is fixed to the first end of the sleeve, and a capillary member that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the capillary member. It is provided with a capillary member including a plurality of passages extending through the pipe. Sleeves and nozzles may contain platinum. The capillary member is slidably engaged within the internal passage of the sleeve. The threaded member may be connected to the sleeve, the positioning assembly may be rotatably engaged with the threaded member, and the rotation of the positioning assembly around the threaded member may be configured to translate the capillary member in the sleeve. ..

The device may further include a cooling device connected to the threaded member. The gas supply tube is rotatably connected to the positioning assembly and may be further connected to the capillary member.

The container can be a melting container, a clarification container, or a cooling container. In addition, or alternative, the container may be a connecting conduit.

In yet another embodiment, a method of adjusting the molten glass is disclosed, which comprises the step of flowing the molten glass into or out of the container, the container comprising a bubbler extending into the molten glass and including an outlet orifice. .. The bubbler includes a sleeve, a nozzle, and a capillary member slidably positioned within the sleeve. The method further comprises the step of pressurizing the nozzle with gas supplied through the capillary member, the pressure of the gas being sufficient to prevent the molten glass from entering the nozzle and coming into contact with the capillary member.

The bubble ejection rate from the nozzle can be 0 bubbles per minute for at least 1 hour. The bubble ejection rate from the nozzle can be 1 to 100 bubbles per minute.

The temperature of the molten glass can be in the range of about 1550 ° C to about 1690 ° C.

The method may further include, after pressurizing the nozzle, depressurizing the nozzle so that the molten glass enters the nozzle and then repressurizing the nozzle, thereby expelling the molten glass from the nozzle.

Both the above overview and the detailed description below present embodiments of the present disclosure and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and characteristics of the embodiments described and claimed. It should be understood as being done. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a better understanding of the embodiments and are incorporated herein by them. The drawings exemplify the various embodiments of the present disclosure and serve to illustrate their principles and operations, as well as their description.

Schematic diagram of a glass manufacturing apparatus as an example according to the present disclosure. A simplified cross-sectional view of a bubbler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the bubbler of FIG. 2 showing a nozzle fixed to one end of the sleeve and a capillary member slidably positioned within the sleeve. Cross-sectional view of the nozzle shown in FIG. 4 in a plane parallel to the central axis in the length direction of the nozzle. Sectional view of the sleeve, nozzle, and capillary member of FIG. 4, including a cooling device. Enlarged view of a portion of the figure of FIG. 5A showing the coating applied to the outer surface of the sleeve. A perspective view of an exemplary cooling device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, shown without an inserted sleeve or nozzle. A perspective view of a portion of the cooling device of FIG. 6, shown with an inserted sleeve and nozzle. Sectional drawing of a part (upper end) of a threaded member connected to a part of a sleeve and a cooling device showing a sealing gasket that seals against a capillary member. Cross-sectional view of a part (lower end) of the threaded member of FIG. 8A showing the capillary member connected to the gas supply pipe. A perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 8A showing a flange used to connect the sleeve to a threaded member. Perspective view of a portion (upper end) of an exemplary positioning assembly connected to the threaded members of FIGS. 8A and 8B according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Perspective view of a portion (lower end) of the positioning assembly of FIG. 10A showing the connection between the gas supply pipe and the gas line. The glass manufacturing apparatus includes a downstream glass manufacturing apparatus including a molten glass adjusting container positioned between a molten glass and a clarification container, and the molten glass adjusting container is provided with a bubbler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Schematic of another glass manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Schematic of yet another glassmaking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the bubbler disclosed herein can be located in a clarification vessel downstream of the melting vessel.

From this, the apparatus and method will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments that are examples of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, references to the same or similar parts use the same reference numbers throughout the drawing. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Unless otherwise instructed, drawings may not be at a constant scale, or even between drawings may not be at a constant scale.

The range may be expressed herein from "about" one particular value and / or "about" another particular value. When such a range is represented, another embodiment includes from that one particular value and / or to another particular value. Similarly, it will be understood that when a value is approximated using the antecedent "about", that particular value forms another embodiment. It will also be further understood that each endpoint of the range is important both in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

Orientation terms used herein, such as top, bottom, right, left, front, back, top, bottom, etc., are used only with respect to the figures drawn and are intended to mean absolute directions. Not.

Unless expressly stated, no method described herein is intended to be construed as requiring the steps to be performed in a particular order. Thus, if the claims of the method do not actually state the order in which the steps should follow, or if the claims or description do not explicitly state that the steps are limited to a particular order. In any respect, the order is not intended to be estimated at all. This is a logical matter regarding the arrangement of steps or operating flows; plain meaning derived from grammatical constructs or punctuation; any possible interpretation, including the number and types of embodiments described herein. It also applies to non-express basis.

The terms "substantial", "substantially", and variations thereof as used herein are intended to mean that the features described are equal to or approximately equal to a value or description. There is.

Various features, elements or steps of a particular embodiment may be disclosed using the transition phrase "comprising", while the transition phrase "consisting" or "substantially from". It should be understood to include alternative embodiments, including those that can be described using "consisting essentially of". Thus, alternative embodiments for devices that include A + B + C may include embodiments in which the device comprises A + B + C and embodiments in which the device substantially comprises A + B + C.

As used herein, a noun refers to a plurality of referents unless the context explicitly dictates something else. Thus, for example, a reference to a "some (a)" component includes an embodiment having two or more such components, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise.

Aspects of the present disclosure include an apparatus for adjusting a batch to molten glass, more specifically an apparatus for adjusting molten glass. The heating furnaces of the present disclosure can be provided in a wide range of applications for heating gases, liquids and / or solids. In one example, the apparatus of the present disclosure is described in connection with a glass melting system configured to melt a batch into molten glass and transport the molten glass to a downstream processing facility.

The methods of the present disclosure can prepare molten glass in a wide variety of ways. For example, the molten glass can be adjusted by heating the molten glass to a temperature higher than the initial temperature, for example, a temperature higher than the melting vessel temperature. In a further example, the molten glass reduces the heat loss rate that would otherwise have occurred by maintaining the temperature of the molten glass or by applying thermal energy to the molten glass, thereby reducing the heat loss rate. It can be adjusted by controlling the cooling rate of the molten glass.

In the method of the present disclosure, molten glass can be prepared using a clarification container, a mixing container or another container. If necessary, the device is a glass manufacturing device equipped with a thermal management device, an electronic device, an electromechanical device, a support structure, or a transport container (conduit) for transferring molten glass from one position to another. It may include one or more additional components, such as other components to facilitate operation.

An example glass manufacturing apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. In some examples, the glass making apparatus 10 may include a glass melting furnace 12, which may include a melting vessel 14. In addition to the melting vessel 14, the glass melting furnace 12 has one heating element (eg, a combustion burner or electrode) configured to heat the batch and convert the batch to molten glass, if desired. It may include the above additional components. In a further example, the glass melting furnace 12 may include a thermal management device (eg, an insulating component) configured to reduce heat lost from the vicinity of the melting vessel. In another further example, the glass melting furnace 12 may include electronic and / or electromechanical devices configured to facilitate batch melting into the glass melt. In yet another example, the glass melting furnace 12 may include a support structure (eg, support chassis, support members, etc.) or other components.

The glass melting vessel 14 is typically made of a refractory material such as a refractory ceramic material. In some examples, the glass melting vessel 14 may be constructed of refractory ceramic bricks, such as refractory ceramic bricks containing alumina or zirconia. The glass melting vessel 14 may further include one or more bubblers 16. The bubbler 16 is positioned on the floor of the melting vessel and can extend upward into the molten glass that occupies a certain volume of the melting vessel. For example, in other embodiments for other containers, the bubbler can be positioned in the other direction. The bubbler 16 may be configured to introduce gases such as, but not limited to, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof into the molten glass. The bubbler 16 may be located near the inlet region of the melting vessel, near the outlet region of the melting vessel, or in an intermediate position within the melting vessel.

In some examples, the glass melting furnace can be incorporated as a component of a glass making device configured to make a glass ribbon. In some examples, the glass melting furnaces of the present disclosure are incorporated as components of glass making equipment, including slot drawing equipment, float bath equipment, downdrawing equipment, updrawing equipment, rolling equipment or other glass ribbon making equipment. It can be. As an example, FIG. 1 schematically shows a glass melting furnace 12 as a component of a fusion downdraw device 10 that fuses and stretches a glass ribbon for subsequent processing into a glass sheet.

For example, the glass manufacturing apparatus 10 such as the fusion down drawing apparatus of FIG. 1 may include an upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 18 located upstream of the glass melting vessel 14, if necessary. In some examples, part or all of the upstream glass making apparatus 18 may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12.

As shown in the illustrated example, the upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 18 may include a storage bin 20, a batch feed device 22, and a motor 24 coupled to the batch feed device. The storage bin 20 may be configured to store a certain amount of batch 26 that can be supplied into the melting vessel 14 of the glass melting furnace 12, as indicated by the arrow 28. In some examples, the batch feed device 22 may include a motor 24 configured to feed a predetermined amount of batch 26 from the storage bin 20 to the melting vessel 14. In a further example, the motor 24 can power the batch feed device 22 to introduce the batch 26 at a controlled rate based on the detection level of the molten glass downstream of the melting vessel 14. The batch 26 in the melting vessel 14 can then be heated to form the molten glass 30.

The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 may also include a downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32, which is positioned downstream with respect to the glass melting furnace 12, if necessary. In some examples, a portion of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32 may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12. For example, the first coupling conduit 34 discussed below, or other part of the downstream glassmaking apparatus 32, may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12. The elements of the downstream glassmaking equipment, including the first coupling conduit 34, can be formed from precious metals. Suitable noble metals include platinum group metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium and palladium, or alloys thereof. For example, downstream components of glassmaking equipment can be formed from a platinum-rhodium alloy containing 70-90% by weight platinum and 10-30% by weight rhodium.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32 may include a first conditioning vessel, such as a clarification vessel 36, located downstream of the melting vessel 14 and connected to the melting vessel 14 by the first coupling conduit 34 described above. In some examples, the molten glass 30 can be gravitationally fed from the melting vessel 14 to the clarification vessel 36 by a first coupling conduit 34. For example, due to gravity, the molten glass 30 can pass through the internal path of the first coupling conduit 34 from the melting vessel 14 to the clarification vessel 36.

In the clarification vessel 36, air bubbles can be removed from the molten glass 30 by various techniques. For example, batch 26 may contain one or more multivalent compounds (ie, finings) such as tin oxide that, when heated, undergo a chemical reduction reaction and release oxygen. Other suitable finings include, but are not limited to, arsenic, antimony, iron and cerium. The clarification vessel 36 may be heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of the melting vessel 14, thereby further heating the finings. Oxygen bubbles generated by the temperature-induced chemical reduction of the fining agent rise through the molten glass in the clarifying vessel, where the gas in the molten glass generated in the melting furnace is the oxygen generated by the fining agent. Combines with the air bubbles. The expanded bubbles can then rise to the free surface of the molten glass in the clarification vessel and then be expelled out through a suitable vent tube.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32 may further include a second conditioning vessel, such as a mixing vessel 38, which may be located downstream of the clarification vessel 36. The mixing vessel 38 can be used to provide a homogeneous glass melt composition, thereby reducing or eliminating inhomogeneous cords that would otherwise have been present in the molten glass. As shown, the clarification vessel 36 can be connected to the molten glass mixing vessel 38 by a second coupling conduit 40. In some examples, the molten glass 30 can be gravitationally fed from the clarification vessel 36 to the mixing vessel 38 by a second coupling conduit 40. For example, due to gravity, the molten glass 30 can pass through the internal path of the second coupling conduit 40 from the clarification vessel 36 to the mixing vessel 38. In some examples, the downstream glass making apparatus 32 may include a plurality of mixing vessels. For example, in some embodiments, the mixing vessel may be included upstream of the clarification vessel 36 and the second mixing vessel may be located downstream of the clarification vessel 36. In some embodiments, mixing can be performed by a mixing device such as static mixing vanes. The stationary mixing blade can be positioned in the conduit of the downstream glassmaking equipment or in the downstream glassmaking equipment other vessel.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32 may further include another conditioning vessel, such as a feed vessel 42, which may be located downstream of the mixing vessel 38. The feed container 42 can regulate the molten glass 30 supplied into the downstream molding device. For example, the feed vessel 42 can act as an accumulator and / or flow controller for adjusting the molten glass 30 at a consistent flow rate by the feed conduit 46 and supplying it to the molding body 44. As shown, the mixing vessel 38 may be connected to the feed vessel 42 by a third coupling conduit 48. In some examples, the molten glass 30 may be gravitationally fed from the mixing vessel 38 to the feed vessel 42 by a third coupling conduit 48. For example, gravity can act to drive the molten glass 30 from the mixing vessel 38 to the feed vessel 42 through the internal path of the third coupling conduit 48.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32 may further include a molding apparatus 50, including the molding body 44 described above with an inlet conduit 52. The feed conduit 46 may be positioned to feed the molten glass 30 from the feed container 42 to the inlet conduit 52 of the molding apparatus 50. In the melt molding process, the molding body 44 may include a trough 54 formed on the top surface of the molding body and a convergent molding surface 56 that converges along the bottom edge (root) 58 of the molding body. The molten glass fed to the trough of the molding body via the feed container 42, the feed conduit 46 and the inlet conduit 52 overflows from the trough wall and follows the convergent molding surface as a separate flow of the molten glass. And descend. The separated streams of molten glass join under the root along the root to form a single glass ribbon 60, which is glass by gravity and pull rolls (not shown), etc. By applying tension to the ribbon, it is stretched from the root 58, and as the glass cools and its viscosity increases, the glass ribbon 60 undergoes a viscoelastic transition and has mechanical properties that give the glass ribbon 60 stable dimensional properties. As such, the dimensions of the glass ribbon are controlled. The glass ribbon can then be separated into separate glass sheets by a glass separator (not shown).

Unlike other components of downstream glassmaking equipment, the molded body 44 is typically formed from a refractory ceramic material such as alumina (aluminum oxide) or zirconia (zirconia oxide), but other refractory materials as well. Can be used. In some examples, the molding body 44 is a monolith block of ceramic material that has been hydrostatically pressed, sintered, and then machined into a suitable shape. In another example, the molded body can be formed by joining two or more blocks of a refractory material, such as a refractory ceramic material. The molding body 44 may include one or more precious metal components configured to direct the flow of molten glass from the molding body over the molding body.

A simplified schematic of the bubbler 16 as an example according to the embodiments described herein is shown in FIG. 2, which includes a capillary member 100, a sleeve 102 and a nozzle 104. The capillary member 100, the sleeve 102 and the nozzle 104 can both define the central axis 105 of the longitudinal flow, which can define the general central axis of the device and selected components. The bubbler 16 supports the cooling device 106, the threaded member 108, the positioning assembly 110, and the bubbler 16 and secures the bubbler to a suitable structure, such as a steel girding or other building structure. The configured support assembly 111 may further include. Other components of the example bubbler are presented in more detail in the discussion below.

3 and 4 are a cross-sectional perspective view of the end portion of the bubbler 16 and ii) a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle 104, showing the capillary member 100, the sleeve 102, and the nozzle 104, respectively. In particular, the sleeves and / or nozzles depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 are configured to be inserted into the molten glass 30. The capillary member 100 can be formed, for example, from any refractory ceramic suitable for use in high temperature corrosive environments. In some examples, the capillary member 100 may be formed of aluminum oxide (eg, aloxide, aloxite or random) or stabilized zirconia (eg, yttria, calcium or magnesium stabilized zirconia, eg). .. The capillary member 100 may be selected, for example, to be compatible with the glass composition in production so that the melting or corrosion of the capillary member that may occur does not significantly affect the entire glass composition. The capillary member 100 extends from one end of the capillary member 100 (ie, the first end 114) to the opposite end of the capillary member (second end 176, see FIG. 8B). It further includes a plurality of capillary lines 112 that are generally parallel to the axis 105. Each capillary line 112 is configured to limit the entry of the molten glass into the capillary line when the molten glass reaches the capillary member, and each capillary line has a thickness of about 0.02 mm to about 0.635 mm. Can have a diameter in the range of. As used herein, the term "diameter" refers to the maximum dimension of a passage perpendicular to the central axis 105 and is not strictly limited to a circular cross-sectional shaped passage. For example, the capillary line 112 may be circular, rectangular, or may include another geometric shape. Each capillary line 112 includes an orifice 115 at a first end 114, and each capillary orifice 115 includes an area calculated from the dimensions of the capillary orifice. For example, when the capillary orifice is a circular orifice, the area of the capillary orifice is the area of a circle πr ² , where r is the radius of the circle.

The capillary member 100 is slidably positioned within the sleeve 102 so that the capillary member 100 can translate in the sleeve 102 along the central axis 105 as needed. The sleeve 102 can be made of any metal that can withstand the high temperatures and corrosive environments associated with melting glass or adjusting molten glass. For example, suitable metals include platinum group metals such as osmium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, rhodium, platinum or alloys thereof. In an example, the sleeve 102 may be formed from a platinum-rhodium alloy containing platinum in the range of about 70% to about 90% and rhodium in the range of about 10% to about 30%.

Like the sleeve 102, the nozzle 104 can be made of any metal that can withstand the high temperatures and corrosive environments associated with melting glass or adjusting molten glass. For example, suitable metals include platinum group metals such as osmium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, rhodium, platinum or alloys thereof. In an example, the nozzle 104 can be formed from a platinum-rhodium alloy containing platinum in the range of about 70% to about 90% and rhodium in the range of about 10% to about 30%.

The nozzle 104 includes a passage 116 extending from a first orifice 120 defined by a first end 122 to a second orifice 124 defined by a second end 126. In some embodiments, the diameter of the second orifice 124 is larger than the diameter of the first orifice 120. The area of the first orifice 120 in a plane perpendicular to the central axis 105 is the cumulative area of the total number of capillary orifices 115 in order to prevent the flow rate of gas exiting the bubbler through the first orifice 120 from being restricted. Can be substantially equal. That is, for a given volume of gas exiting the capillary member 100, the size of the first orifice 120 can be selected to provide the gas with flow conditions similar to or identical to those of the capillary member 100. As used herein, the orifice area is the total area of the orifices in a plane perpendicular to the central axis 105. For example, if the capillary orifice has a uniform circular cross section and the total number of capillary passages 112 is 20, the cumulative area of the orifice is 20πr ² (assuming each passage has the same radius) and therefore The area of the first orifice 120 is chosen to be substantially equal to 20πr ² . The area of the first orifice 120 is substantially meant to be within 10%, such as within 5% or within 1% of the cumulative area of the capillary tract.

The nozzle 104 may further include a tapered outer surface 128 that tapers in the direction of the first orifice 120 to limit the size of the bubbles during the formation of the bubbles. As best shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle 104 may include a tapered cross-sectional outer surface shape in a plane parallel to the nozzle's longitudinal central axis 105. For example, the outer surface 128 may include the outer shape of a cone. In other examples, such as the example of FIG. 4, the outer surface shape may include an arcuate outer surface shape, such as an anti-curve shape. Although expressed differently, the radius R1 between the central axis 105 and the outer surface 128 can be reduced from the second end 126 to the first end 122 over at least a portion of the nozzle. The passage 116 may include a first passage 130 and a second passage 132 in fluid communication with the first passage 130, where the first passage 130 further terminates at a first orifice 120. The second passage 132 may be terminated at the second orifice 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the second passage 132 may include a diameter larger than the diameter of the first passage 130. In some embodiments, the first passage 130 may have a substantially constant cross-sectional dimension (eg, diameter). In some embodiments, the passage 116 is second, for example in the direction from the second orifice 124 to the first passage 130, in order to match the dimensions of the second orifice 124 with the dimensions of the first passage 130. A taper may be included in the passage 132 of the. For example, the second passage 132 may include the outer shape of a cone. The first passage 130 can be cylindrical.

At least a part of the outer surface of the nozzle 104 is recessed by an amount δ so that the outer diameter of the concave surface 134 can be positioned within the inner diameter of the first end 136 of the sleeve 102. For example, the lower portion of the nozzle 104 may be recessed. The shoulder portion 138 of the nozzle 104 can then be welded to the first end portion 136 of the sleeve 102 along the seam 140 where the shoulder portion 138 contacts the first end portion 136. In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve 102 may further include a plug weld 142 around the periphery of the sleeve, eg, at intervals of 180 degrees or 90 degrees, where the sleeve 102 is drilled to the concave surface 134 and drilled (perforated). Additional welding is formed by filling the drilled out hole) with weld metal. For example, plug welding can be performed using metals compatible with sleeve and nozzle materials. In an example, the plug weld 142 can be formed from a platinum-rhodium alloy containing platinum in the range of about 70% to about 90% and rhodium in the range of about 10% to about 30%.

As described above, the capillary member 100 is slidably positioned in the longitudinally extending passage inside the sleeve 102, and the first end 114 of the capillary member 100 is the second end 126 of the nozzle 104. Can be placed in contact with. The second passage 132 is sized so that each passage of the plurality of capillary passages 112 opens into the second passage 132. Thus, the second passage 132 is intermediate for accepting the gas flow from the capillary member 100 before the gas flow enters the first passage 130 and then exiting the nozzle 104 through the first orifice 120. A chamber can be formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 5A, B and 6-7, the bubbler 16 may further include a cooling device 106. The cooling device 106 can be a fluid cooling device in which a cooling fluid such as water flows into the cooling device through a passage. The cooling device 106 may include an inlet 144 and an outlet 146, respectively, through which cooling fluid is supplied to and recovered from the cooling device 106, as indicated by arrow 148. The cooling device 106 is positioned on the outer wall of the cooling device to control the insertion depth of the bubbler into the container and may include a protrusion 150 extending from it. The cooling device 106 may further include an inner wall 152 defining a central passage through which the sleeve 102 and the capillary member 100 extend. The cooling device 106 is shown in perspective view in FIG. 6 without the sleeve 102 and nozzle 104, and FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the top of the cooling device 106 having the sleeve 102 and nozzle 104 in place. There is. The sleeve 102 may be secured to the cooling device 106 at the upper end of the cooling device 106, for example by welding 154 between the sleeve 102 and the cooling device 106, so that a portion of the sleeve 102 extends from the top of the cooling device 106.

The cooling device 106 may be formed from a suitable refractory steel material such as stainless steel, generally above the protrusion 150, the upper part 156 of the cooling device 106 may be the portion of the cooling device closest to the vessel (eg, the melting vessel 14). To prevent oxidation, it can be coated with a refractory coating 158, for example a plasma sprayed zirconia coating. In addition, the portion of the sleeve 102 that is located within the cooling device 106 and extends through its central passage, such as the length 157 shown in FIG. 5A, is also an inner wall if the inner wall and sleeve are in contact for a sufficiently long period of time. It can be coated with a ceramic coating 159, such as plasma sprayed zirconia, to prevent diffusion welding of the sleeve to 152 (see FIG. 5B).

It should be readily understood from the above figure that at least a portion of the sleeve 102 extends above the cooling device 106 and is not directly cooled by the cooling device. That is, the portion of the bubbler 16 extending into the molten glass, particularly the upper portion of the sleeve 102, is not surrounded by the cooling device. Therefore, the nozzle 104, a part (upper part) of the sleeve 102, and a part of the capillary member 100 are not cooled by the cooling device 106.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8A, 8A, which is a downward continuation of FIG. 8B, and FIG. 9, the sleeve 102 may include a flange 160 extending from a second (bottom) end 162 of the sleeve 102. The joint 164 can be used to secure the sleeve 102 in the passage 166 of the threaded member 108 via the flange 160, the flange 160 being one or more located in and extending into the passage 166. It is pressed against the sealing gasket 172. The passage 166 extends through the threaded member 108 throughout, i.e., from the first end 174 to the second end 176 (see FIG. 8B). For example, the joint 164 can be a threaded joint screwed into the first end 174 of the passage 166. Therefore, the passage 166 may include a thread in the first portion of the passage 166 that is aligned with the threaded joint 164. Compression of one or more sealing gaskets 172 by the joint 164 presses one or more sealing gaskets 172 against the capillary member 100 and the seal lip 173, thereby creating a gas flow between the threaded member and the capillary member. On the other hand, the screw member 108 is sealed. After assembly, the inner wall 152 of the cooling device 106 can be fixed to the joint 164 by welding 178. Therefore, the screw member 108 can be firmly connected to the cooling device 106.

As best shown in FIG. 8B, which shows the lower end of the threaded member 108, the second end 179 of the capillary member 100 is connected to the first end 180 of the gas supply tube 182 via a coupler 184. .. The coupler 184 can be an airtight coupler. The gas supply pipe 182 can be, for example, a stainless steel pipe provided with a central passage 186. The coupler 184 includes a passage 188 that allows the flow of gas between the gas supply tube 182 and the capillary member 100. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 10A, the bearing block 190 is engaged with the thread member 108 via a thread 192 and is threaded into the passage of the bearing block 190 through which the thread member 108 extends. Fit the mountains. The bearing block 190 forms part of the positioning assembly 110. The bearing block 190 may be made of a corrosion resistant metal that is softer than the threaded member 108 in order to prevent binding and wear and to facilitate smooth screwing. For example, the bearing block 190 may be made of silicon bronze and the thread 192 may be a trapezoidal screw such as an acme screw.

10B is a perspective view of the positioning assembly 110, which is a downward continuation of FIG. 10A, where the bearing block 190 rotatably engages the threaded member 108 around it. In addition, the positioning assembly 110 may include a casing 196 connected to the bearing block 190. FIG. 10B shows the end (bottom) of the casing 196. Casing 196 includes a bearing assembly 198 connected to the casing 196 and a collar 200 connected to the bearing assembly 198. The gas supply pipe 182 extends through the bearing assembly 198 and the collar 200, which collar 200 can be connected to the gas supply pipe 182 with a suitable fastener such as a screw 202. Thus, the gas supply pipe 182 is rotatably connected to the positioning assembly 110. The gas supply pipe 182 is further connected to the gas line 204 via an appropriate coupler and fitting, which is in fluid communication with the gas supply source 206.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings, it can be easily observed that the gas line 204 communicates directly with the nozzle 104 via the gas supply pipe 182, the coupler 184, and the capillary member 100. Using a cooling device 106 engaged with the glass melting furnace 12 and a gas supply pipe 182 rotatably connected to the casing 196 via a bearing assembly 198 and a collar 200 (and thus rotatable around the gas supply pipe 182). It should also be understood that the rotation of the positioning assembly 110, including the bearing block 190 and the casing 196, around the threaded member 108 (using the positioning assembly 110) causes the positioning assembly 110 to translate over the threaded member 108. is there. As the positioning assembly 110 translates over the threaded member 108, the capillary member 100 also moves within the sleeve 102 and rises or falls depending on the direction of rotation of the positioning assembly.

The positioning assembly 110 can be rotated manually, such as by hand, or the positioning assembly 110 can be engaged with a drive device (not shown) to rotate the positioning assembly. For example, the drive device may include a worm drive, where one of the bearing block 190 or another part of the positioning assembly 110 mates with the worm gear, which engages with a worm screw connected to the motor. It fits. The drive device can be manually actuated, or a control system (not shown) may be used to actuate the drive device at a predetermined time.

In operation, the gas is fed to the bubbler 16 under pressure from the gas source 206, and the gas pressure in the nozzle passage 116 is maintained slightly higher than the pressure provided by the molten glass above the bubbler. The pressure required depends on variables such as the density of the molten glass 30 above the first (output) orifice 120 of the bubbler and the depth of the molten glass. The gas pressure is, for example, a pressure suitable for releasing 0 to 100 bubbles per minute from the bubbler 16 into the molten glass 30, such as a valve 208 such as a needle valve and a flow meter 210 (see FIG. 1). Can be controlled by Advantageously, the bubbler 16 has a gas pressure below the appropriate pressure required for bubbling, either by intentional outage of the bubbler (eg, outage of gas supply) or unintentionally, such as a line failure. It can withstand for a sufficient period of time before it can decline. For example, in an idle state where bubbling is not desired, the pressure in the first passage 116 can be maintained at a pressure equal to the pressure provided by the depth of the molten glass above the bubbler 16. Under such equilibrium conditions, the bubble velocity would be 0 bubbles per minute. The molten glass does not enter through the passage 116 and does not come into contact with the capillary member 100. On the other hand, in cases where the gas supply to the bubbler 16 drops below the pressure required to prevent the molten glass from entering the passage 116, the passage 116 is filled with the molten glass and may come into contact with the capillary member 100. .. However, since the upper part of the bubbler 16, eg, the nozzle 104, is not cooled, the molten glass in the nozzle (ie, passage 116) is still kept fluid. If the gas pressure in the system, especially in the capillary member 100, recovers to a level higher than the pressure provided by the molten glass above the bubbler, the molten glass is pushed out of the passage 116 (or capillary path 112) and bubbling resumes. Alternatively, the bubbler returns to an idle state where the nozzle 104 is pressurized but the bubble velocity is substantially zero. When the molten glass comes into contact with the capillary member 100 for a period sufficient to cause decomposition of the capillary member 100, the capillary member can be raised in the sleeve 102 via the positioning assembly 110. Thus, the bubbler 16 provides the ability to intentionally or unintentionally terminate bubbling indefinitely and then resume bubbling when desired, without the need to remove and reconstruct the bubbler.

Regular bubblers that rely on cooling to protect bubbler components exposed to molten glass can suffer from the inability to clean glass-filled passageways. When the molten glass enters the bubbler passage, the glass is cooled to a low viscosity, which can interfere with the ability to expel the glass from the passage. Stopping cooling to reduce the risk of glass viscosity damages the bubbler structure intended to be protected by cooling. Therefore, a typical practice is to replace the bubbler.

Another example of the glass manufacturing apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 11, wherein the glass manufacturing apparatus includes a downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 32 and is positioned between the melting vessel 14 and the clarification vessel 36. A molten glass conditioning vessel 212 that fluidly communicates with the molten glass 14 via a conduit 214 may further be included, the molten glass conditioning vessel comprising one or more bubblers 16 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The conditioning vessel 212 can, for example, constitute a cooling vessel that cools the molten glass from the molten glass 14 to a temperature below the melting temperature, and one or more clarifiers in the molten glass can be used to reduce their redox state. Make it changeable. Thus, the fining agent can be "recharged" with oxygen supplied by one or more bubblers 16 before entering the fining vessel 36. The control vessel 212 can be a complementary melting vessel, such as a melting vessel having multiple temperature zones. Alternatively or optionally, the clarification vessel 36 may include one or more bubblers 16.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of a portion of another glassmaking apparatus 300, including a melting vessel 302 having a melting section 304 and a clarification section 306 separated by a wall 308, having one or more passages through it. Is shown. The bubbler 16 may be included in the melting section 304. Alternatively or optionally, the clarification section 306 may include one or more bubblers 16.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, this disclosure is intended to extend to modifications and modifications of such embodiments, provided that they fall within the appended claims and their equivalents.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in terms of terms.

Embodiment 1
A container containing the internal volume and
A bubbler that extends into the volume
The sleeve, including an internal passage that extends through the sleeve,
A nozzle fixed to the first end of the sleeve, including an internal passage extending between an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, through the nozzle and a plurality of capillary passages extending through the capillary member. A device for adjusting molten glass, including a bubbler, comprising a capillary member, slidably engaged in said internal passage of the sleeve.

Embodiment 2
The device according to embodiment 1, further comprising a cooling device.

Embodiment 3
The device according to embodiment 2, further comprising a screw member connected to the cooling device.

Embodiment 4
The device according to embodiment 1, further comprising a threaded member connected to the sleeve.

Embodiment 5
The device according to embodiment 4, further comprising a positioning assembly rotatably coupled to the threaded member.

Embodiment 6
The device according to embodiment 5, wherein the capillary member is connected to a gas supply pipe.

Embodiment 7
The device according to embodiment 6, wherein the gas supply pipe is rotatably connected to the positioning assembly.

8th Embodiment
The apparatus according to the first embodiment, wherein the nozzle includes an outer shape that is tapered toward the outlet orifice.

Embodiment 9
The device of embodiment 3, wherein the internal passage of the nozzle comprises an intermediate chamber having a diameter larger than the diameter of the outlet orifice.

Embodiment 10
The device according to embodiment 1, wherein the nozzle is fixed to the sleeve by peripheral welding around a seam between the nozzle and the sleeve.

Embodiment 11
The device according to embodiment 10, wherein the nozzle is fixed to the sleeve by a plurality of plug welds.

Embodiment 12
The device according to embodiment 1, wherein at least a part of the sleeve includes a ceramic coating.

Embodiment 13
The device according to embodiment 2, wherein at least a part of the cooling device includes a ceramic coating.

Embodiment 14
The device according to embodiment 3, wherein the sealing gasket is positioned between the capillary member and the threaded member.

Embodiment 15
The device according to embodiment 1, wherein the nozzle includes a recess located in the internal passage of the sleeve.

Embodiment 16
The apparatus according to the first embodiment, wherein the container is a melting container, a clarification container, or a cooling container.

Embodiment 17
The apparatus according to the first embodiment, wherein the sleeve and the nozzle contain platinum.

Embodiment 18
The outlet orifice of the nozzle comprises an orifice area, and each capillary of the plurality of capillary lines comprises an output orifice having an orifice area, where the sum of the orifice areas of the plurality of capillary lines is The apparatus according to the first embodiment, wherein the orifice area of the output orifice of the nozzle is substantially equal to the orifice area.

Embodiment 19
A container containing the internal volume and
A bubbler that extends into the volume
The sleeve, including an internal passage that extends through the sleeve,
Nozzles fixed to the first end of the sleeve,
A capillary member comprising a plurality of passages extending through the capillary member, slidably engaged within the internal passage of the sleeve.
The threaded member connected to the sleeve and rotatably engaged with the threaded member and rotated around the threaded member to translate the capillary member within the sleeve. A device for adjusting molten glass, including a bubbler, with a positioning assembly.

20th embodiment
19. The device according to embodiment 19, further comprising a cooling device connected to the threaded member.

21st embodiment
20. The device of embodiment 20, further comprising a gas supply tube coupled to the positioning assembly and further coupled to the capillary member.

Embodiment 22
The device according to embodiment 19, wherein the container is a melting container, a clarification container, or a cooling container.

23rd Embodiment
The device according to embodiment 19, wherein the sleeve and the nozzle contain platinum.

Embodiment 24
A step of flowing molten glass into or out of a container, wherein the container extends into the molten glass and comprises a bubbler including an outlet orifice, the bubbler being a sleeve, a nozzle, and the sleeve. A step in which a capillary member is slidably positioned therein, and a step in which the nozzle is pressurized with a gas supplied through the capillary member, wherein the pressure of the gas causes the molten glass to be inside the nozzle. A method of adjusting molten glass, including steps, that is sufficient to enter and prevent contact with said capillary member.

25.
The method according to embodiment 24, wherein the ejection rate of bubbles from the nozzle is 0 bubbles per minute for at least 1 hour.

Embodiment 26
The method according to embodiment 24, wherein the discharge rate of bubbles from the nozzle is in the range of 1 to 100 bubbles per minute.

Embodiment 27
The method according to embodiment 24, wherein the temperature of the molten glass is in the range of about 1550 ° C to about 1690 ° C.

28.
24. The embodiment is characterized in that after the nozzle is pressurized, the nozzle is depressurized so that the molten glass enters the nozzle, and then the nozzle is repressurized, whereby the molten glass is expelled from the nozzle. The method described in.

10 Glass making equipment 12 Glass melting furnace 14 Glass melting container 16 Bubbler 18 Upstream glass manufacturing equipment 20 Storage bottle 22 Batch feeding device 24 Motor 26 Batch 28 Arrow 30 Molten glass 32 Downstream glass manufacturing equipment 34 First coupling conduit 36 Clarification container 38 Mixing container 40 Second coupling conduit 42 Feeding container 44 Molding body 46 Feeding conduit 48 Third coupling conduit 50 Molding device 52 Inlet conduit 54 Traf 56 Convergent molding surface 58 Bottom edge (root)
60 Glass Ribbon 100 Capillary Member 102 Sleeve 104 Nozzle 105 Central Axis 106 Cooling Device 108 Threaded Member 110 Positioning Assembly 111 Support Assembly 112 Capillary Route 114 First End 115 Capillary Orifice 116 Passage 120 First Orifice 122 Nozzle 1st End 124 Second Orifice 126 Nozzle Second End 128 Outer Surface 130 First Passage 132 Second Passage 134 Second Passage 134 Concave 136 Sleeve First End 138 Shoulder 140 Seam 142 Plug Welding 144 Entrance 146 Exit 148 Arrow 150 Protrusion 152 Inner wall 154 Welding 156 Top 157 Length 158 Fireproof coating 160 Flange 162 Sleeve second end 164 Fitting 166 Passage 172 Sealing gasket 173 Seal lip 174 First end 176 Second end 178 Welding 179 Second end 180 First end 182 Gas supply pipe 184 Coupler 186 Central passage 188 Passage 190 Bunk block 192 Thread 196 Casket 198 Bunk assembly 200 Color 202 Thread 204 Gas line 206 Gas source 208 Valve 210 Flow meter 212 Fused glass control container 214 Conduit 300 Glass manufacturing equipment 302 Fused container 304 Fused section 306 Clarification section 308 Wall

Claims (12)

A container containing the internal volume and
A bubbler that extends into the volume
The sleeve, including an internal passage that extends through the sleeve,
A nozzle fixed to the first end of the sleeve, including an internal passage extending between an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, through the nozzle and a plurality of capillary passages extending through the capillary member. A device for adjusting molten glass, including a capillary member comprising a bubbler with a capillary member slidably engaged in said internal passage of the sleeve. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bubbler further includes a cooling device configured to partially surround the sleeve . The device according to claim 2, further comprising a screw member connected to the cooling device. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a screw member connected to the sleeve. The device of claim 4, further comprising a positioning assembly rotatably coupled to the threaded member. The device according to claim 5, wherein the capillary member is connected to a gas supply pipe. The device according to claim 6, wherein the gas supply pipe is rotatably connected to the positioning assembly. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the nozzle includes an outer shape that is tapered toward the outlet orifice. The device according to claim 3, wherein the internal passage of the nozzle includes an intermediate chamber having a diameter larger than the diameter of the outlet orifice. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the nozzle includes a recess located in the internal passage of the sleeve. A step of flowing molten glass into or out of a container, wherein the container extends into the molten glass and comprises a bubbler including an outlet orifice, the bubbler being a sleeve, a nozzle, and the sleeve. A step in which a capillary member is slidably positioned therein, and a step in which the nozzle is pressurized with a gas supplied through the capillary member, wherein the pressure of the gas causes the molten glass to be inside the nozzle. A method of adjusting molten glass, including steps, that is sufficient to enter and prevent contact with said capillary member. Claimed, wherein after pressurizing the nozzle, the nozzle is depressurized so that the molten glass enters the nozzle, and then the nozzle is repressurized, thereby expelling the molten glass from the nozzle. 11. The method according to 11.

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