Batch sensor for glass-melting furnaces

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the batch without contacting same, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, and means responsive to the signal for causing an increase in the thickness of the glass batch when the level decreases and for causing a decrease in the thickness of the glass batch when the level increases.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, said sensing means being carried by said moving means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by said sensing means comprising sending means for sending ultrasonic waves toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving waves reflected from the glass batch.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by temperature-sensing means associated with said sensing means for sensing the temperature in the area of said sensing means and for changing the magnitude of the signal therefrom in response to the temperature sensed.

Claim 6

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the batch without contacting same, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, and means responsive to the signal for causing an increase in heat input to the furnace when the level of the batch increases and causing a decrease in the heat input to the furnace when the level of the glass batch therein decreases, thereby to cause a decrease in the thickness of the glass batch when the level of the batch increases and to cause an increase in the thickness of the glass batch when the level of the batch decreases.

Claim 7

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the batch without contacting same, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, and means responsive to the signal for causing an increase in heat input to the furnace when the level of the batch increases and causing a decrease in the heat input to the furnace when the level of the glass batch therein decreases, thereby to cause a decrease in the thickness of the glass batch when the level of the batch increases and to cause an increase in the thickness of the glass batch when the level of the batch decreases.

Claim 8

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace having a forehearth, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the forehearth, computer means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for receiving the signal from said batch level sensing means and for producing an output signal in response thereto, and means responsive to the output signal for causing an increase in the thickness of the glass batch when the level of the batch decreases, and for causing a decrease in the thickness in the glass batch when the level of the glass batch increases.

Claim 9

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace having a forehearth, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the forehearth, computer means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for receiving the signal from said batch level sensing means and for producing an output signal in response thereto, and means responsive to the output signal for causing an increase in the thickness of the glass batch when the level of the batch decreases, and for causing a decrease in the thickness in the glass batch when the level of the glass batch increases.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by said molten glass level sensing means comprises a bubbler.

Claim 11

Apparatus for sensing the glass level in a glass-melting furnace having a forehearth, said apparatus comprising means for sensing the level of molten glass in the forehearth, sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, means for supporting said sensing means above the batch at a predetermined level in the furnace, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal reflected from the glass batch, and computer means for receiving a signal from said batch sensing means and for receiving a signal from said glass sensing means and for producing an output signal in response thereto.

Claim 12

Apparatus for sensing the glass level in a glass-melting furnace having a forehearth, said apparatus comprising means for sensing the level of molten glass in the forehearth, sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, means for supporting said sensing means above the batch at a predetermined level in the furnace, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal reflected from the glass batch, and computer means for receiving a signal from said batch sensing means and for receiving a signal from said glass sensing means and for producing an output signal in response thereto.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized by changing means responsive to the output signal from said computer means for changing the thickness of the layer of the glass batch.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9 characterized by said changing means changes the thickness of the layer of the glass batch by changing the power input to electrodes in the furnace.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 9 characterized by said changing means changes the thickness of the layer of the glass batch by changing the heat input to the furnace.

Claim 16

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace having a forehearth which receives molten glass, said apparatus comprising means for sensing the level of molten glass in the forehearth, moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, sensing means carried by said moving means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal back from the glass batch, and means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for receiving the signal from said batch level sensing means and for producing an output signal in response thereto.

Claim 17

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace having a forehearth which receives molten glass, said apparatus comprising means for sensing the level of molten glass in the forehearth, moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, sensing means carried by said moving means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal back from the glass batch, and means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for receiving the signal from said batch level sensing means and for producing an output signal in response thereto.

Claim 18

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, means for supporting said means above the batch at a predetermined level in the furnace, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal reflected from the glass batch, and temperature-sensing means associated with said sensing means for sensing the temperature in the area of said sensing means and for changing the magnitude of the signal therefrom in response to the temperature sensed.

Claim 19

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, means for supporting said means above the batch at a predetermined level in the furnace, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal reflected from the glass batch, and temperature-sensing means associated with said sensing means for sensing the temperature in the area of said sensing means and for changing the magnitude of the signal therefrom in response to the temperature sensed.

Claim 20

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, sensing means carried by said moving means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal back from the glass batch, circuit means for receiving a signal from said receiving means, and means for changing one of the heat input means and the batch supply means of the furnace in response to the last-named signal.

Claim 21

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, sensing means carried by said moving means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal back from the glass batch, circuit means for receiving a signal from said receiving means, and means for changing one of the heat input means and the batch supply means of the furnace in response to the last-named signal.

Claim 22

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, sensing means carried by said moving means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal back from the glass batch, temperature-compensating means associated with said sensing means for sensing the temperature in the area of said sensing means and for changing the signal from said sensing means in response thereto.

Claim 23

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising moving means for traversing a predetermined path above the glass batch, sensing means carried by said moving means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending a signal toward the glass batch and receiving means for receiving a signal back from the glass batch, temperature-compensating means associated with said sensing means for sensing the temperature in the area of said sensing means and for changing the signal from said sensing means in response thereto.

Claim 24

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the glass batch, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the furnace, comparison means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for producing an output signal indicative of batch thickness, said comparison means including means responsive to said output signal for maintaining the batch layer at a predetermined thickness.

Claim 25

Apparatus for controlling the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means positioned above the glass batch for measuring the level of the glass batch, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the furnace, comparison means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for producing an output signal indicative of batch thickness, said comparison means including means responsive to said output signal for maintaining the batch layer at a predetermined thickness.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the thickness of the glass batch layer equals: (L.sub.b -L.sub.g)/(1-d.sub.b /d.sub.g) Wherein:

Claim 27

L b =level of the batch layer

Claim 28

L b =level of the batch layer

Claim 29

L g =level of the molten glass in the furnace

Claim 30

L g =level of the molten glass in the furnace

Claim 31

d g =density of the molten glass

Claim 32

d g =density of the molten glass

Claim 33

d b =density of the batch.

Claim 34

d b =density of the batch.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to claim 16 characterized by said maintaining means causing an increase in the thickness of the glass batch when the batch level decreases and for causing a decrease in the thickness of the glass batch when the batch level increases.

Claim 36

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said glass level sensing means comprises a bubbler.

Claim 37

Apparatus for measuring the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the furnace, comparison means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for receiving the signal from said batch level sensing means and for producting an output signal indicative of batch thickness.

Claim 38

Apparatus for measuring the thickness of glass batch in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch, said sensing means producing a signal which is responsive to the level of the glass batch, means for sensing the level of molten glass in the furnace, comparison means for receiving a signal from said glass level sensing means and for receiving the signal from said batch level sensing means and for producting an output signal indicative of batch thickness.

Claim 39

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, means for supporting said sensing means above the glass batch at a predetermined level in the furnace, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending ultrasonic waves toward the glass batch, and receiving means for receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the glass batch.

Claim 40

Apparatus for sensing the glass batch level in a glass-melting furnace, said apparatus comprising sensing means for measuring the level of the glass batch without contacting same, means for supporting said sensing means above the glass batch at a predetermined level in the furnace, said sensing means comprising sending means for sending ultrasonic waves toward the glass batch, and receiving means for receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from the glass batch.

Claim 41

Apparatus according to claim 21 characterized by temperature-sensing means associated with said sensing means for sensing the temperature in the area of said sensing means and for changing the magnitude of the signal therefrom in response to the temperature sensed.

Claim 42

In an electrically-operated, glass-melting furnace having a tank, electrodes projecting into the tank for melting glass batch therein to form a pool of molten glass, means forming a source of batch, a batch feeder communicating with said source, means for moving said feeder in a predetermined path over the molten glass to form a layer of glass batch thereon in the furnace, the improvement comprising sensing means carried by said feeder for measuring the level of the glass batch in the furnace without contacting the glass batch by sending ultrasonic waves toward the glass batch, receiving means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves from the glass batch, circuit means for receiving a signal from said receiving means, which signal is responsive to the level of the glass batch in the furnace, and means responsive to an electrical signal from said circuit means for increasing the batch thickness when the batch level decreases and for decreasing batch thickness when the batch level increases.

Claim 43

In an electrically-operated, glass-melting furnace having a tank, electrodes projecting into the tank for melting glass batch therein to form a pool of molten glass, means forming a source of batch, a batch feeder communicating with said source, means for moving said feeder in a predetermined path over the molten glass to form a layer of glass batch thereon in the furnace, the improvement comprising sensing means carried by said feeder for measuring the level of the glass batch in the furnace without contacting the glass batch by sending ultrasonic waves toward the glass batch, receiving means for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves from the glass batch, circuit means for receiving a signal from said receiving means, which signal is responsive to the level of the glass batch in the furnace, and means responsive to an electrical signal from said circuit means for increasing the batch thickness when the batch level decreases and for decreasing batch thickness when the batch level increases.