Patent ID: 7231788

Claim:
A device for reduced-pressure refining of a glass melt using a reduced-pressure apparatus in which the glass melt is fed to a refining bank via a riser and is discharged again from the refining bank via a downpipe so that a reduced pressure is generated by a glass flow in the refining bank, wherein said refining bank, said riser, and/or said downpipe comprises at least one component, said at least one component is made from a refractory metal or a refractory metal alloy acting as glass-contact material, and said refractory metal or said refractory metal alloy contains at least one of said molybdenum, said tungsten, said tantalum, and said hafnium; wherein said device comprises a protective gas reservoir and an automatic connection for connecting said protective gas reservoir to supply a protective gas to protect an inner side of said at least one component from oxidation in the event of a pressure rise or in the event of a falling glass melt column.