IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Siemens, of Dresden, in the German Empire,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR'
"
Sealed the 16th February 1877, and dated the 11th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Siemens at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1876.
FREDERICK SIEMENS, of Dresden, in the German Empire.
THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the fining and
working out of glass, more particularly in tank furnaces, whereby the fining process
is continuously carried on, and a considerable greater yield obtained with the
same expenditure of fuel, as also a superior quality of glass than in ordinary tank
furnaces.
According to my Invention I construct a fire-brick vessel or boat, by preference
of oblong shape, which swims in the liquid glass in the tank furnace. The boat is
divided by a cross partition into two compartments, in the end of one of which are
formed holes in such a position that as the boat floats they are situated just under
the surface of the liquid glass in the tank, so that the melted material flows into
the boat through these holes entirely free from the impurities floating on the liquid
in the tank. As the glass flows into this compartment it becomes more fined by
the action of the heat at the surface than below, and consequently in becoming
denser it sinks to the bottom of the compartment, whence it flows through openings
near the bottom of the partition into the second compartment, which is situated
opposite the working hole of the furnace, and from which the glass is worked out by
the operator.
If it is desirable to shield the glass in this second compartment somewhat from
the heat of the furnace the partition may be raised some height above the top of
the boat, or the compartment may be covered in by a hood provided with an opening
for working out the glass.
If it be desired to carry the fining of the glass still further this may be effected by
constructing the boat with three or more separate compartments instead of only two,
through which the glass is made to flow consecutively before it is worked out.

page_text: Instead of making the boat with a fixed partition, as described, it may contain
a moveable ring of fire-brick, which floats in the glass in the boat, the space
within such ring serving as the second compartment, from which the glass is
worked out.
Such apparatus as above described may also be used in ordinary glass pots, as
well as in tank furnaces, the boats being made sufficiently small to float in the
glass in the pots.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Siemens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th June
1877.
FREDERICK SIEMENS, of Dresden, in the German Empire.
THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the fining and
working out of glass, more particularly in tank furnaces, whereby the fining process
is continuously carried on, and a considerably greater yield obtained with the same
expenditure of fuel, as also a superior quality of glass than in ordinary tank
furnaces.
According to my Invention I construct a fire-clay vessel or boat, by preference of
oblong shape, which swims in the liquid glass in the tank furnace. The boat is
divided by a cross partition into two compartments, in the end of one of which are
formed holes in such a position that as the boat floats they are situated just under
the surface of the liquid glass in the tank, so that the melted material flows into
the boat through these holes entirely free from the impurities floating on the liquid
in the tank. As the glass flows into this compartment it becomes more fined by the
action of the heat at the surface than below, and consequently in becoming denser
it sinks to the bottom of the compartment, whence it flows through openings near the
bottom of the partition into the second compartment, which is situated opposite the
working hole of the furnace, and from which the glass is worked out by the
operator.
If it is desirable to shield the glass in this second compartment somewhat from
the heat of the furnace the partition may be raised some height above the top of
the boat, or the compartment may be covered in by a hood provided with an opening
for working out the glass.
If it be desired to carry the fining of the glass.still further this may be effected
by constructing the boat with three or more separate compartments instead of
only two, through which the glass is made to flow consecutively before it is
worked out.
Instead of making the boat with a fixed partition, as described, it may contain a
moveable ring of fire-clay, which floats in the glass in the boat, the space
within such ring serving as the second compartment from which the glass is
worked out.
Such apparatus as above described may also be used in ordinary glass pots as well
as in tank furnaces, the boats being made sufficiently small to float in the glass in
the pots.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying Drawings are shown variously modified forms of the
before-described floating vessels or boats for operating according to my Invention.
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, a side elevation; and
Fig. 4, a cross section of one arrangement.
The fire-clay vessel or boat A is divided by a partition B into two compartments.

page_text: liquid glass can flow into the compartment, the boat being so formed that when
floating these holes are situated just under the surface F of the glass in the tank or
glass pot. Near the bottom of the partition B are other holes G, through which the
glass as it sinks in the compartment C flows into the compartment D in order there
to be worked out by the operator.
Figs. 5 to 8 shew respectively a longitudinal section, a sectional plan, a side
view, and a cross section of another construction, only differing from that first
described in being provided with a hood H over the working out compartment D,
in order to protect the liquid glass therein from the heat of the furnace. The
other parts being the same as before described are designated by the same letters of
reference.
Fig. 9 shews a longitudinal section, and Fig. 10 a plan of another modification,
in which in lieu of the fixed partition B of the former arrangements there is provided
a loose fire-clay ring B, which floats in the glass in the boat, and the interior
space D of which constitutes the compartment from which the glass is worked out.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The method of continuously fining and working out of glass in glass tank
furnaces and pots by causing the glass to flow from just under its surface into one
compartment of a floating vessel or boat, whence it is made to flow in an upward
direction into another compartment, from which it is worked out, substantially as
herein described.
Second. The use of apparatus for continuously fining and working out glass from
glass tank furnaces or pots, consisting of a boat or vessel of fire-clay arranged to
float in the glass, and having two or more compartments, into one of which the
glass enters through holes near the top of the compartment, while into the compart-
ment from which it is worked out it is made to flow in an upward direction from
the other compartment or compartments, substantially as herein described.
Third. The use of apparatus for continuously fining and working out glass from
glass tank furnaces or pots, consisting of a boat or vessel of fire-clay arranged to
float in the glass, into which the glass enters through holes near its top, and from
which the glass is worked out through a fire-clay ring floating in the glass in the
vessel, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Siemens, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
FREDERICK SIEMENS. (L.S.)