Patent Application
20120222451
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for the extension of a furnace campaign and/or the reduction of energy input during melting by the shape of exchangeable component assemblies surrounding the melt which are located in the area of the melt surface and which are in contact with the transition area, below as well as above of the melt surface. The same holds for the haulage way of the melt.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Such a melting furnace is, within others, known from the patent application DE10 2008 050855, also published as WO 2010/040486.
Known components in the area of the melt surface, in particular of glass, are made in form of a soldier course in order to avoid horizontal joints or gaps. In particular, in the area of flux lines there is a strong detrition (erosion, corrosion).
It is an object of the invention to extend the furnace campaign and/or to reduce the energy input during melting by forming the components that are used therefore and which are located in the transition area of the melting surface and which contact the transition area below as well as above of the melt surface, via shaping such that the elements that are exchangeable during the melting operation have a secure guide with the carrier elements that are not exchangeable during the melting operation, a secure sealing of the melt is ensured and, if possible, a cost effective manufacture. The same also holds for haulage ways or extraction drifts of the melt.
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for ensuring a secure sealing of the melting furnace or the haulage track/extraction drift of the melt, a secure guide and support for the elements which are exchangeable during the melting operation, such that the elements which are exchangeable during the melting operation enable an improvement in relation to the furnace campaign and/or a reduction of the energy input during melting. The same holds for haulage tracks/extraction drifts of the melt. This is achieved by the arranging the main guide or guideway and the main resting surface of the elements which are exchangeable during the melting operation above the melt surface. This ensures that the elements which are exchangeable during the melting operation have a secure support in the long range and a secure guidance with the carrier elements in the long range.
The main guideway (5) is the guide which has a secure support such as for example preventing a sliding of the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation into the melt (1) and which have a prolonged durability with respect to the secondary guide (6).
In contrast to that, the secondary guideway (6) is the guide which has either a rather negligible guide with respect to the main guideway (5) and/or a shorter durability with respect to the main guideway (5). A secondary guideway (6) is not required therein as well as a plurality of secondary guidance (6) can exist.
The main guideway (5) can also be composed of a plurality of main guides (5).
The main resting surface (7) is the surface on which the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation mainly rest on the support elements (4) and/or that have a prolonged durability with respect to the secondary resting surface (8). In contrast to that, the secondary resting surface (8) is the surface which either only supports a reduced load with respect to the main resting surface (7), that the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation exercise on the support elements (4) and/or a reduced durability with respect to the main resting surface (7). A secondary resting surface (8) is not required therein as well as a plurality of secondary resting surfaces (8) may exist.
The main resting surface (7) can also be composed of a plurality of main resting surfaces (7).
The guide and the support surface of the element (3) which is exchangeable during the melting operation can also form a combined unit with the support element (4). This can be achieved, for example by an inflection point.
A main inflection point (9) is the inflection point or breakpoint, in
The descending course, as shown in
A secondary inflection point (10) is not required herein, as well as a plurality of secondary inflection points (10) can exist.
The main inflection point (9) can also be composed of a plurality of main inflection points (9).
The guideway and the support surface of the element (3) which is exchangeable during the melting operation can also form a combined unit by at least one main inflection point (9), as shown in
A secure distance of the guideway and/or the support surface with respect to the melt surface (2) provides a long-term guide and/or rest for the support elements (4).
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
Within the invention also lie, for example a rotational or increasing or descending movement of the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation, by which the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation are only for a certain amount of time in the area of the melting surface (2), as well as below and above the melt surface (2).
In this way, the main guidance (5) and/or the main support surface (7) can also be arranged at least partially below of the melt surface (2).
It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that any technically reasonably shape of the guide or guideways and rest or resting surfaces as well as a combination of guide and rest can be combined in a single unit or in a plurality of units.
A secure sealing of the melt, after the moving of the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation through the melting furnace and/or the haulage track also has to be ensured. This can be implemented for example by letting the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melt operation fall or pressing them down in direction of gravity, i.e. a vertical displacement, after the movement through the melting furnace, such that the wear of the element (3) which is exchangeable during the melting operation and the wear of the adjacent elements by the displacement ensures a sealing of the melting furnace or of the haulage track of the melt (1) with the melt (1). A horizontal displacement or a torsion of the element (3) which is exchangeable during the melting operation can also be envisaged for the same purpose.
A corresponding shaping of the element (3) which is exchangeable during the melting operation is considerable.
The carrier element (4) can also have a different width with respect to the element (3) which is exchangeable during the melt operation, by which the number of carrier elements (4) and of the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melt operation become different with respect to a predetermined length.
A modular design of the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation, by connectors such as joggling or indenting, connectors of any technical type in lose or tight form, singular or plural, as well as combinations of individual elements (3) that are exchangeable during the melting operation with respect to each other and/or together can be considered as well as the manufacture of an infinite element (3) which is exchangeable during the melting operation, for example by a permanent manufacture in place in a single piece and, for example, termination after the run time of the campaign.
Sealings and/or coatings/revetments of the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation as well as intermediate elements of same or different materials or types in any variation and arrangement can be considered.
In one type of embodiment in which elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation approach the melt surface (2) from above, run through the melt surface (2) and leave the furnace for example at the bottom of the melt (1), the arrangement of the guideway and/or the support at the side opposite to the melt (1) seems to be the most reasonable. The same holds also for bottom groups which are moved through the bottom.
The application of the force for displacing the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation with respect to each other, if in one or a plurality of directions is considerable as well, for example guiding tools in any technical type may be required; for example in
The individual elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation can be an individual elements, can be composed or joint elements made from a plurality of individual elements, can have multilayer, in different materials, shapes and can have any type and manner known to a person skilled in the art.
Anything explained with respect to the elements (3) which are exchangeable during the melting operation also hold for the carrier element (4).
The present invention is not limited to the melting of glass and the haulage tracks of a glass melt herein but also relate to any type of melt such as for example metals, minerals or mixtures of melts such as to any type of haulage track, haulway or extraction drift of the melt.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2009 040 033.8 | Sep 2009 | DE | national |
The present application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2010/005314 filed by the present inventor on Aug. 30, 2010. The aforementioned PCT patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2010/005314 | Aug 2010 | US |
| Child | 13408777 | US |
