US4441906A — Method of preheating glass batch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 88 words

A process for producing glass by charging to a melting furnace and melting therein a particulate glass batch, including the steps of: heating the durable heat transfer media, larger in particle size than the glass batch, by direct contact with exhaust gases from the melting furnace wherein the direct contact with furnace gases coats the media with a condensate; heating the glass batch by direct contact with the hot media; and cleaning the media by heating them to a temperature that will melt the condensate from the media.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 88 words

A process for producing glass by charging to a melting furnace and melting therein a particulate glass batch, including the steps of: heating the durable heat transfer media, larger in particle size than the glass batch, by direct contact with exhaust gases from the melting furnace wherein the direct contact with furnace gases coats the media with a condensate; heating the glass batch by direct contact with the hot media; and cleaning the media by heating them to a temperature that will melt the condensate from the media.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 96 words

A process for producing glass by charging to a melting furnace and melting therein a particulate glass batch, including the steps of: heating the durable heat transfer media, larger in particle size than the glass batch, by direct contact with exhaust gases from the melting furnace wherein the direct contact with furnace gases coats the media with a condensate; heating the glass batch by direct contact with the hot media; and removing the condensate from the media by heating them to a temperature wherein the condensate is very fluid and will flow away from the media.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 96 words

A process for producing glass by charging to a melting furnace and melting therein a particulate glass batch, including the steps of: heating the durable heat transfer media, larger in particle size than the glass batch, by direct contact with exhaust gases from the melting furnace wherein the direct contact with furnace gases coats the media with a condensate; heating the glass batch by direct contact with the hot media; and removing the condensate from the media by heating them to a temperature wherein the condensate is very fluid and will flow away from the media.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 108 words

A process for producing glass by charging to a melting furnace and melting therein a particulate glass batch, including the steps of: (a) heating the durable heat transfer media, larger in particle size than the glass batch, by direct contact with exhaust gases from the melting furnace wherein the direct contact with furnace gases coats the media with a condensate; (b) heating the glass batch by direct contact with the hot media; and (c) removing the condensate from the media by heating them to a temperature such that the viscosity of the removed condensate permits downward of the condensate flow in a fluid state away from the media.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 108 words

A process for producing glass by charging to a melting furnace and melting therein a particulate glass batch, including the steps of: (a) heating the durable heat transfer media, larger in particle size than the glass batch, by direct contact with exhaust gases from the melting furnace wherein the direct contact with furnace gases coats the media with a condensate; (b) heating the glass batch by direct contact with the hot media; and (c) removing the condensate from the media by heating them to a temperature such that the viscosity of the removed condensate permits downward of the condensate flow in a fluid state away from the media.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 103 words

A process according to claim 3 wherein the glass batch in step (b) is heated by (i) introducing the hot media into one end of an inclined heat transfer container rotatable about an axis having the same inclination as the container; (ii) introducing the particulate glass batch into the other end of container; (iii) rotating the container, during rotation the batch and media tumbling and moving over each other in heat transfer relationship; and (iv) moving the glass batch in one direction through the rotating container for discharge and moving the hot media in the opposite direction for discharge at the other end.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

A process according to claim 3 wherein the media is ceramic balls and the heating of step (c) is carried out at a temperature ranging from 1700° to 1900° F.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

A process according to claim 5 wherein the temperature is 1800° F.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

A process according to claim 3 wherein the heating of step (c) is carried out by bringing the media in direct contact with hot gases from a burner.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

A process according to claim 3 wherein the heating of step (c) is carried out by bringing the media in direct contact with furnace exhaust gases.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A process according to claim 7 wherein the gases and media in step (c) flow in a manner that are countercurrent to each other.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

A process according to claim 3 wherein the heating of step (c) is carried out after the heating of step (a) and prior to the heating of step (b).

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-04-10	1987-10-10	1988-04-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-04-10	1991-10-10	1992-04-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-04-10	1995-10-10	1996-04-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of preheating glass batch

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag