A Method of and Furnace for the Continuous Melting of Glass by Electricity.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Furnace for the Continuous Melting of Glass by
Electricity.
We, FRANZ HEINRICH BECKER, Glass Manufacturer, of Wevelinghoven, Rhein-
dand, Germany, and LUDWIG SCHREYER, Glass Works Manager, of Quadrath,
Kreis Bergheim, Erfurt, Saxony, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
The method of manufacturing glass hereafter set forth permits of a con-
siderable diminution and modification of the working plant, besides offering a
simple and rapid process of manufacture. These advantages are obtained by
applying the heat radiated from electric arcs to the melting and refining of the
glass frit. The after-heating of the glass thus obtained is best performed in
furnaces heated by means of electric arcs as will be hereinafter described.
The essential feature of the invention consists in carrying out the melting
process as a continuous operation, by causing the glass material to descend along
a series of hearths arranged in step form, or as an incline with a series of un-
dulations to the uppermost one of which hearths the raw material is supplied
from a hopper, each hearth being heated by means of electric ares, so that as
the partially melted materials descend from the first step to the second one, they
are there farther heated by the electric arcs there produced, and so on, the glass
being brought to a greater degree of perfection and purity at each stage.
By thus causing the glass to flow over the successive steps or undulations also
all gas bubbles contained in the melted material are caused to break and come
to the surface, while the greater portion of the solid deposits contained in the
mass will collect at the bottom of each successive step.
The annexed drawing shows, by way of illustration, a continually acting fur-
nace heated in accordance with our invention by electricity.
On the drawings:-
-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the furnace.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, whilst Fig. 3 is a detail view of a
part of the furnace drawn to an enlarged scale.
The crude materials to be treated are fed into a hopper a the discharge from
which is regulated by a feed-screw.
From the hopper the materials pass on to a series of hearths 61, 62, b³, arranged
in the passage b.
As will be seen these hearths are arranged one below the other
like a series of steps and as the material is melted on the first hearth by an
electric are from electrodes f¹, it flows down on to the second b, and from that
on to the third being heated at each step by an electric are from electrodes f,
from 6 the glass runs into the receiver e where the molten mass is thoroughly
mixed and worked up to uniformity.
From the receiver the molten mass is run through openings at the base of
the partition wall into the refining chamber d, from which, after it has been
perfectly refined, it is passed over the comparatively low partition wall e¹ into
the working chamber e where it is worked out.

page_text: The electric currents are applied to the furnace in the following manner:-
From the poles of a dynamo (continuous current, alternating or interrupted
current) proceed two similar installations, on the one hand, to the melting
hearths, 62, 63, and, on the other hand, to the receiver c, the refining chamber d
and the working chamber e. The electric ares can be automatically regulated
and controlled in any well known manner.
In the melting passage three pairs of electrodes are arranged just above the
hearths 61, 62, 63. The arc produced at the upper electrodes fi f¹, heats the raw
material and fuses it whilst those of the electrodes f, f, and f³, f³, continue
and increase the fusing process.
Electrodes are also arranged in the walls of the furnace as shewn at g. These
electrodes can be arranged in the furnace at any suitable position calculated to
give the best results.
It is to be observed that the accompanying drawing is only intended to serve
as an example for illustrating the mode of carrying out the invention, as it will
be obvious that the stepped hearths 11263 instead of being in the form shewn
may be constructed in various other ways, and may be combined with various
known forms of refining furnaces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
as
1. A process for the continuous manufacture of glass wherein the glass
material is caused to descend over a series of hearths arranged in step form or
an incline with undulations, at each of which steps or undulations the
material is heated by electric ares, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. For the continuous manufacture of glass according to the process referred
to in the first claim, the use of a melting furnace consisting of a series of hearths
arranged in step form, or of an incline with undulations, at each of which steps
or undulations are provided electrodes adapted for the production of electric arcs,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of an electrically heated melting furnace for the continuous
manufacture of glass such as is referred to in the second claim with electrically
heated receiving, refining and working out chambers, substantially as herein
described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1898
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.