Patent ID: 6289697
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
Apparatus for controlling rate of molten glass flow through a forehearth having a width and a depth, which comprises:a flume disposed in said forehearth for restricting the width of said forehearth to glass flow while said depth remains constant, such that there is a difference in level of molten glass in the forehearth upstream and downstream of said flume,said flume being disposed with respect to the direction of glass flow through the forehearth such that the width of the forehearth to glass flow is the same upstream and downstream of said flume,said flume comprising a restriction block having a restriction passage, and transition blocks upstream and downstream of said restriction block for smooth transition of the width to glass flow from the width of said forehearth to the width of said restriction passage,sensors for measuring level of molten glass upstream and downstream of said flume,a controller responsive to said sensors for determining rate of molten glass flow through said forehearth as a function of a difference in molten glass level between said sensors, andmeans responsive to said controller for variably controlling rate of glass flow through the forehearth.