IMPROVEMENTS IN GLASS PURNACES, AND IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of the Office for British and Foreign
Patents, 68 Fleet Street in the City of London, Patent Agent for an invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN GLASS PURNACES, AND IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREWITH. Communicated to him from abroad by Henri Quennec,
of 17 Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1882.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68 Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, IMPROVEMENTS IN GLASS FURNACES, AND
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWTTU. Communicated to me from
abroad by Henri Quenuez, of 17 Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris, France.
This invention relates to a system of furnace with quick combustion hearth, for
continuously working and melting glass in a single tank, bath, or pot, (the air
being heated by the sides of the furnace) and to the use of floating cuvettes, bowls,
or pots of special construction.
By means of these said floating cuvettes, bowls or pots perfectly refined glass,
without scum, or gall, can always be worked, and the glass can always be taken
from one point, consequently, the operator is provided with very homogeneous glass
in the floating cuvettes, bowls or pots, placed at a distance from the sides of the
furnace, and in hot glass.
This improved furnace consists of hearths which project the gases and air,
intimately mixed in the combustion chamber, directly into the tank or bath, the
gases and air being heated to the highest temperature at the moment that they
strike, like a blow-pipe, the lumps of composition thrown into the furnace, through
holes contrived therein.
The flames traverse the furnace throughout its entire length, and escape by
flues, which direct them to the fritting-arches, whence they escape at their end by
a chimney.
Beside the fritting of the materials, the waste heat of the furnace may also be
TD 077

page_text: used for heating any suitable maces for ameaning the grassy are
working retorts of glass cylinders (manchons) for the manufacture of sheet glass,
or window glass.
To prevent the lower courses of bricks of the melting tank (at the bridge side
only, where the heat is very great) to yield, and to become displaced, under the
pressure of the column of liquid glass, small bricks are employed, and are fitted in
The tank.
The composition, thrown into the furnace, melts and becomes refined, and as
refined glass, arrives at the working holes or boecas (ouvreaus) being pushed, on
the one hand, by successive fresh charges, and drawn off at the other by the
gathering of the glass at the said working holes or boccas (ouvreaux).
The gathering is effected in the floating cuvettes, bowls or pots, and an aperture
in the lower part thereof allows the refined glass to enter the said floating cuvettes
bowls or pots.
In another arrangement, or modification, the floating cuvette, bowl, or pot
consists of a sheet or plate of clay, provided in front and below the aperture
admitting the glass into the floating cuvette or bowl, this clay sheet or plate
prevents the glass from the lower colder layers, in the melting tank, getting in
when the workman is gathering, and this also prevents stringiness in the manu-
factured articles, as it prevents the hotter glass from the top of the tank mixing
with the colder one at the bottom. This arrangement is intended for use when a
considerable weight of glass is to be gathered, as for instance in making sheet glass
or window glass, and Hasks.
When the hood, lid or cap which covers the floating cuvette, howl, or pot does
not come exactly opposite the working holes, or borcas, the flames or radiating heat
may in some cases, affect the surface of the glass contained in the said floating
cuvette, bowl or pot, and cause a little scum therein. This slight scum being, in
certain manufactures, objectionable, as for instance in the making of white glass,
or of sheet or window glass, the floating cuvettes, bowls or pots may be modified
for the purpose.
The working holes or boceas may be arranged at the side of the furnace, and the
fritting arches at the end.
If two kinds of glass of different colours are to be produced, it will suffice to
divide the melting tank by a wall, in which the air is free to circulate, and placed
in the direction of movement of the flame.
As the wall of the melting tank where the flames strike, is subjected to an
exceedingly high temperature, and is at the same time principally subject to the
action of melting materials, channels may be provided along this wall, and
currents of air caused to traverse them, one current entering at the right hand side.
and escaping at the left into a chimney whilst the other enters at the left, and escapes
at the right, through another chimney.
This modification however renders a third channel necessary where the air.
which has circulated around the lower walls of the bath is superheated by the
sides of the hearth to be admitted to the burning spaces (Eruleurs) by holes
provided in the fire bridge.
The heat of the arch is also utilized for heating a part of the air required for
combustion.
As all the walls of the tank are not necessary for heating the air serving for the
combustion, a wall separates the air chamber which surrounds that part of the
tank which serves for working, and causes the current of air to circulate therein.
but only in case the said walls become heated to too high a degree.
A much hotter glass is also obtained along the walls of the melting tank, and
this allows of the use of bottomless floating cuvettes, bowls or pots, which have,
on the working-holes side, two projections which constantly keep them at a
predetermined distance from the walls of the tank.
Finally, as at the moment of charging the furnace if the stoker neglects his duty,
there is a rather strong blast or rush or flame, sufficient to impede the working o

page_text: the furnace, which flame cannot escape rapidly enough through the lunettes or
openings in the arches, an escape chimney is now provided at the end of the
furnace, in the roof, which chimney instantly nullifies the excessive production of
Home. The lid of this chimney is operated by a bar fixed to an elbow lever,
connected by a rod to the arm of said lid, which is hinged and kept in equilibriumi
by a counter-balance weight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th December
1882.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68 Fleet Streel,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, IMPROVEMENTS IN GLASS FURNACES, AND
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH. Communicated to me from
abroad by Henri Quennee, of 17 Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris, France.
This invention relates to a system of furnace with quick combustion hearth for
Continuously working and melting glass in a single tank, or bath (the air being
heated by the sides of the furnace) and to the use of floating cuvettes bowls or pots
et special construction.
By means of this Invention the following advantages are attained over the
methods at present in use, riz.
1. Suppression of expensive regenerators or recuperators of heat, a frequent
ause of difficulties in the working of the furnaces, as by this invention the air is
now heated, which is required for combustion, in channels surrounding the walls of
the hearth, and of the tank or bath. This air on becoming heated cools the walls
or sides of the bath and consequently the said tank or bath, becomes less liable to
leak.
2. The erection of the apparatus is greatly simplified thus rendering the working
very regular and free from the difficulties inherent in the distributing valves of
other constructions.
3. The cost of erection is greatly reduced.
4. The neressity for repairs is diminished, whilst the latter are capable of being
more readily effected and rendered less expensive.
5. The possibility, without requiring a gas generator (gazogène) of using the
quick combustion hearths generally employed and of working the glass con-
finuously by means of a floating cuvette bowl or pot having a cover or cap for
protecting the glass against strokes of the flame or burning, and against cinders,
produced when stoking the fire.
These floating cuvettes bowls or pots offer, moreover, the following advantages.
1. They permit of perfectly refined glass, without scum or gall, being worked at
all times.
2. They permit of the glass being always taken from one point, so that the
operator is provided with a very homogeneous glass in the floating cuvettes, bowls,
or pots placed at a distance from the sides of the furnace, and in hot glass.

page_text: How proceed with reference to the accompanying drawings to fully describe the
invention.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 (sheet I) shew, respectively, two transverse sections on the
lines A, B, C, D, and a longitudinal section of a furnace constructed according to
this invention.
The furnace is composed of the fireplaces a, which project the gases and air
intimately mixed in the combustion chamber a, directly into the tank or bath b,
the gases and air being heated to the highest temperaturo at the moment that they
strike, in blow-pipe form, the lumps or masses of composition thrown into the
furnace through the holes d, provided therein.
The flames traverse the furnace throughout its entire length, and escape by the
flues which direct them to the fritting arches whence they escape at their end,
through a chimney.
Besides fritting of the material the waste heat of the furnace may also be used.
1. For heating any suitable furnaces for annealing glass, and
2. For heating the working retorts for glass cylinders for the manufacture of
sheet or window glass.
To prevent the lower courses of the brickwork of the bath or tauk, at the
bridge-side only, where the heat is very great, from yielding and becoming
displaced under the pressure of the column of liquid glass, small bricks ',indicated
in fig. 12 are employed.
The composition thrown into the furnace at d, melts and becomes refined, and as
refined glass, arrives at the working holes or boccas f. being pushed, on the one
hand, by successive fresh charges, and drawn off, on the other by the gathering of
the glass at the said working holes.
The gathering is effected in the floating bowls or pots shewn of sheet II, of the
drawings, in figure 4 in section on line CD of fig. 6, Figure 5 in section on line c.f
of fig. 6 and plan fig. 6.
The cuvettes or pots A are surmounted by the lid or cover B, which by means of
an aperture D in the lower part thereof, admits the refined glass into the floating
cuvettes or pots.
A second arrangement of floating cuvette is shown in figures 7, 8 and 9 (sheet 11)
which respectively represent the longitudinal section of the cuvette A',
longitudinal section of the cover 331 and transverse section of the cuvette without
the cover; this construction is intended for use when a considerable weight of
glass is to be gathered, as for instance in making sheet or window glass, and flasks
of large dimensions.
The modification consists of a sheet or plate of clay provided in front and below
the aperture admitting the glass into the floating cuvettes or pots; this clay sheet
or plate prevents the glass from the lower colder layers in the bath or tank being
admitted when the operator is gathering, and this also prevents stringiness"in
the manufactured articles as it prevents the hotter glass from the top of the bath
mixing with the colder glass at the bottom.
66
The cover, cap or hood, which covers the floating cuvette or pot not coming
exactly against the working holes, the flames or radiating heat may, in some cases,
affect the surface of the glass contained in the said cuvette or pot, and cause a little
scum therein. This slight scum being in certain manufactures objectionable, tas
for instance in the making of white, or of sheet or window glass), the arrangements
shewn in figs. 10 and 11 (Sheet 11) in section and in plan, may be adopted.
The figures on sheet I indicate an arrangement of furnace in which the working
holes are at the side of the furnace and the fritting arches at the end.
If two kinds of glass of different tints or colours are to be produced it will be
sufficient if the tank or bath be divided by a partition or wall in which the air is
free to circulate, the said partition or wall being placed in the direction of
movement of the flame.
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
Sheet I represents some modifications of the above described construction

page_text: 1, tritting arcues.
k, iron chimney for increasing the current of air for cooling the wall A.
The following are the modifications which may be made in the furnace first
above described.
1. As the wall of the tank or bath A where the flames strike is subjected to an
exceedingly high temperature, and is, at the same time principally subject to the
action of the Huxes, two channels B B', are provided along this wall and are
traversed by currents of air c, c' one of which, c, enters the right hand side and
escapes at the left by the chimney, whilst the other centers at the left hand
escapes at the right by another chimney not shewn in the drawing.
2. This modification renders a third channel D necessary where the air
(arrows 3 and 4) which has circulated around the lower walls of the bath is super-
heated by the sides of the fire place and admitted to the fire spaces or chambers by
holes provided in the fire bridge.
3. The heat of the arch or crown is also utilized for heating a part of the air
required for combustion. The direction of the arrows 2 indicates the path of this
air which, entering the channels F, is heated by the upper walls of the bath or
tank, rises to the arch or crown by the channel G, is there superheated and arrives
into the furnace by the holes b.
4. As all the walls of the tank or chamber are not required for heating the air
serving for combustion, a wall L separates the air channels which surround that
purt of the tank or bath which serves for working, and the current of air (arrow 5)
is caused to circulate therein, only in case the said walls become heated to too high
a degree.
A much hotter glass than heretofore is also obtained along the walls of the
working tank or bath, and this allows of the use of floating cuvettes or pots
without bottoms, as shewn in Fig. 14.
This floating cuvette or pot has, at the side where the working hole is, two
projections which constantly keep it at a predetermined distance from the walls of
the bath or tank.
5. Finally, as at the moment of charging the furnace if the stoker neglects his
duty, there is a rather strong blast or rush of flame sufficient to impede the
working of the furnace, which flame cannot escape rapidly enough by the lunettes ¿
of the arches, an escape chimney is now provided at the end of the furnace, in the
crown, which chimney instantly nullifies the excessive production of flame. The
lid or damper of this chimney is operated, as clearly indicated in fig. 12 of the
drawings, by a bar fixed on an elbow lever connected by a chain (as shewn) or by

page_text: a rod to the arm of the said lid or damper which is hinged and kept in equilibrium
by a counter weight.
When a furnace with a single tank or bath is used without a quick combustion
hearth, and when such furnace is supplied from a gas generator, for example, the
herein, described floating cuvettes or pots may be employed without their covers
lids or hoods which are only necessitated by the flying off of einders, and strokes
of the flame these covers are also unnecessary when furnaces with quick_com-|
bustion hearths are employed.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed I declare that I claim, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent-
First. A tank. or bath for continuously melting and working glass, so arrange
as to be heated by the gaseous products of combustion, arising from an ordinary
quick combustion hearth, said gases being burnt in a current of air heated by its
being conducted through flues or channels provided along the furnace and the fire
places, substantially as specified.
Second. In connection with a glass melting furnace having a single tank and a
quick combustion hearth, the use of the hereinabove described floating cuvettes
with a lid or hood the use of said cuvettes allowing homogenous and workable
glass to be gathered at all times although the glass on the surface of the bath may
be surrounded with imperfectly refined glass the said cuvettes admitting moreover
of the use of a quick combustion hearth (instead of requiring a gas generator)
without the liability of the surface of the glass which is being worked, becoming
spoilt by cinders, strokes of flame or any floating particles which may be carried
along with such flame, all substantially as set forth.
Third. The special arrangement and construction of furnaces for melting glass
and of floating cuvettes or pots for use with the same, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinabove set forth, and as illustrated in the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Ernest de Pass have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Fifth day of December in the year 1882.