Patent ID: 8171752

Claim:
A float glass production apparatus comprising: a glass melt producing unit including a melting tank for making a glass melt and a refining tank for degassing the glass melt; a float tank including a metallic basin and a metal bath contained in the metallic basin; conducting devices for conducting the glass melt from the glass melt producing unit to the metal bath contained in the float tank; and a device for minimizing direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and the float tank, said device for minimizing said direct current comprising at least one auxiliary electrode connected with ground via a variable resistor and located in the glass melt producing unit so as to be in electrical contact with the glass melt when the glass melt is present in the glass melt producing unit; and an electrical connection between the metallic basin of the float tank and ground; whereby said direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and said float tank is minimized.