Auxiliary operators for slide dampers

Claim 1

In a reversing forced draft glass melting furnace of the type having a pair of regenerators adapted for periodic cycling, an ejector stack connected to each regenerator, an ejector nozzle mounted in each said stack, a reversing valve periodically and alternately communicating said nozzles with a source of combustion air and a source of ejection air, a slide damper associated with each said stack above each said nozzle to direct the flow of air in each said stack, a power means for automatically and periodically operating each said slide damper in conjunction with said reversing valve, the improvement comprising auxiliary operators for moving each said slide damper between open and closed positions and wherein each said auxiliary operator includes: a. means for reciprocating its said slide damper between said open and closed positions in event of failure of said power means and comprising a movable rack; b. means for mounting said reciprocating means on said ejector stack in substantially the same plane as said slide damper; c. a manually operable force multiplying device operatively connected to said reciprocating means for imparting movement thereto; and d. means for detachably connecting said reciprocating means to said slide damper, said detachable connecting means comprising a bail pin affixed to the end of said slide damper, and said rack being provided with a T-shaped slot for receiving said bail pin.