Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass.
I, VIVIAN BYAM LEWES, of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Professor of Chemistry, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of glass and
has for object to considerably lessen the time usually required to effect complete
fusion of the frit or material of which glass is to be made (hereinafter referred to
as frit), due to the slow conduction of heat from the exterior of the mass of frit to
its centre in consequence of such frit being a bad conductor of heat.
For this purpose I intimately mix suitable carbonaceous material, as for example
wood charcoal, with the frit before introducing the same into the glass pot or
melting vessel, and then effect the combustion of such carbonaceous material by
means of oxygen or air, preferably the former. By this means an intense heat will
be generated throughout the mass of the frit which will consequently be fused in
much less time than by the application, as heretofore, of heat to the exterior only
of the glass pot, or to the surface only of the frit as in a tank furnace. The
Bupply of oxygen or air may advantageously be continued after the complete fusion
of the frit in order to eliminate impurities and produce glass of good quality as in
the Thomas process for the manufacture of glass.
The oxygen or air, preferably in a heated state, may be introduced into the mass
of frit either by one or more removable tubes of refractory material as for example
platinum; or through one or more suitably arranged channels formed in the bottom
or wall of the melting vessel, the mixture being simultaneously heated by the
application of heat in the ordinary manner to the exterior of the melting vessel, or
to the upper surface of the frit when the same is in a tank furnace. Or the
oxygen necessary to effect the combustion of the powdered carbonaceous material,
may be generated within the mass of frit. For this purpose a portion of the
alkaline carbonate in the frit may be replaced by an alkaline nitrate which, upon
being fused by the heat applied to the exterior of the mass of the mixture of frit
and carbonaceous material, will be decomposed and liberate the oxygen necessary
for the combustion of the said carbonaceous material. The nature of the
carbonaceous material employed, and also that of the oxygen producing substance,
when the same is used, should be such that the ash or residue resulting from its
combustion, or decomposition, as the case may be, will be fusible and of much the
same character as the frit so that it will not injuriously affect the quality of the
resulting glass.
As will be obvious the proportions and constituents of the frit and also the
proportion of the carbonaceous material to be mixed therewith, can be varied
within wide limits.
Dated this 10th day of May 1892.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass.
I, VIVIAN BYAM LEWES, of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Professor of Chemistry, 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:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of glass and
has for object to considerably lessen the time usually required to effect complete
fusion of the frit or material of which glass is to be made (hereinafter referred
to as frit), due to the slow conduction of heat from the exterior of the mass
of frit to its centre in consequence of such frit being a bad conductor of heat.
For this purpose I intimately mix suitable carbonaceous material, as for
'example wood charcoal in a very fine state of division, with the frit before
introducing the same into the glass pot or melting vessel, and then effect the
combustion of such carbonaceous material by means of oxygen or air, preferably
the former. By this means an intense heat will be generated throughout the mass
of the frit which will consequently be fused in much less time than by the
application, as heretofore, of heat to the exterior only of the glass pot, or to
the surface only of the frit as in a tank furnace. The supply of oxygen or
air may advantageously be continued after the complete fusion of the frit in
order to eliminate impurities and produce glass of good quality as in the Thomas
process for the manufacture of glass.
For this
The oxygen or air, preferably in a heated state, may be introduced into the
mass of frit either by one or more removable tubes of refractory material as
for example platinum; or through one or more suitably arranged channels formed
in the bottom or wall of the melting vessel, the mixture being simultaneously
heated by the application of heat in the ordinary manner to the exterior of the
melting vessel, or to the upper surface of the frit when the same is in a tank
furnace. Or the oxygen necessary to effect the combination of the powdered
carbonaceous material may be generated within the mass of frit.
purpose a portion of the alkaline carbonate in the frit may be replaced by an
oxygen producing substance such as an alkaline nitrate, which, upon being fused
by the heat applied to the exterior of the mass of the mixture of frit and
carbonaceous material, will be decomposed and liberate the oxygen necessary
for the combustion of the said carbonaceous material. The nature of the
carbonaceous material employed, and also that of the oxygen producing substance,
when the same is used, should be such that the ash or residue resulting from its
combustion, or decomposition, as the case may be, will be fusible and of much the
same character as the frit so that it will not injuriously affect the quality of the
resulting glass.
Suitable proportions by weight and substances to form the mixture of frit and
carbonaceous material when oxygen or air is supplied from an external source are
for example-Sand 100 parts, sodic carbonate 50 parts, limestone 15 parts, and
charcoal 4 parts. When the oxygen is to be generated within the mass of the
mixture the proportions and constituents of the mixture may for example be as
follows Sand 100 parts; sodic carbonate 30 parts; sodic nitrate 20 parts;
limestone 15 parts; and charcoal 4 parts.
:
As will be obvious however the proportions and constituents of the frit and also
the proportions of the carbonaceous material to be mixed therewith, can be varied
within wide limits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1 In the manufacture of class subiecting the frit or material of which glass is

page_text: to be made, to the action of intense local heat generated within the mass of such
frit by the combustion therein by means of oxygen or air, of a powdered
carbonaceous material mixed with the frit preparatory to its fusion substantially
as herein before described for the purpose specified.
2. Effecting the combustion of the powdered carbonaceous material mixed with
the frit as referred to in the preceding claim, by means of oxygen generated by
the decomposition by heat, of an oxygen producing substance, such as an alkaline
nitrate, mixed with or forming part of the first substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of February 1893.
VIVIAN B. LEWES.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.