Patent ID: 6763682
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A furnace for the continuous manufacture of synthetic vitreous silica glass ingot, the furnace comprising:a furnace enclosure housing a refractory container, the container being adapted to hold a melt of synthetic vitreous silica; a die disposed within a wall or base of the container, the die including an orifice through which the glass ingot is extruded; moveable support means downstream of the orifice, adapted to support and facilitate withdrawal of the ingot; and one or more burners adapted to maintain said melt of synthetic vitreous silica in said refractory container above its sintering temperature, at least one burner being a synthesis burner for depositing synthetic vitreous silica by vapour deposition onto a surface of the melt and having associated means for supplying silica precursor and combustion gases; said die and moveable support means being arranged to enable continuous withdrawal of synthetic vitreous silica as an ingot of predetermined cross-sectional dimensions, defined by dimensions of said die orifice, at a rate substantially similar to that at which silica is deposited by said synthesis burner.