IE62140B1

IE62140B1 - Improvements in a pot

Info

Publication number: IE62140B1
Application number: IE390889A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Sean Kelter
Original assignee: Waterford Glass Research & Dev
Priority date: 1989-12-06
Filing date: 1989-12-06
Publication date: 1994-12-14
Also published as: ZA902472B; GB2238785A; GB9006733D0; GB2238785B; IE893908A1

Abstract

A pot (10) comprises a chamber 11 defined by a base 12, a front wall 13, a rear wall 13a and side walls 14 which load into a dome-shaped roof 15. The front wall 13 has two openings 16, 26. The chamber 11 is divided into a first sub-chamber 11a and a second sub-chamber 11b by a wall 50. The wall 50 extends from the roof 15 in the direction of the base or floor 12 of the chamber 16 and further extends from the front wall 13 to the rear wall. There is at least one opening 31 which provides communication between the first sub-chamber 11a and the second sub-chamber 11b. The opening 16 is in communication with the first sub-chamber 11a the opening 26 is in communication with the second sub-chamber 11b. The entire pot is made from fire clay and is used in the production of molten glass. The raw materials for glass production may be loaded into the sub-chamber 11a and caused to become molten. The molten glass may be withdrawn from the sub-chamber 11b enabling the simultaneous recharging of the sub-chamber 11a with more raw material.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in a pot. In particular, it relates to a pot of the type used for melting the ingredients which are used in the manufacture of glass.

A pot is made from fire clay containing about 30% AI2O3, 60% SiO^ and 10% of other known ingredients .

The pot essentially comprises a chamber having an opening for enabling raw material, for the manufacture of glass, to be inserted therethrough for melting at a temperature of about 1450°C. After about 36 hours, the molten material is ready for use and is removed by suitable tools for enabling the formation of glass products.

A disadvantage of the known pot is that during the 36 hour melting cycle, molten material cannot be withdrawn. Following the 36 hour period, molten material is withdrawn but at the same time raw material cannot be introduced into the pot. In other words, the pot requires a period of 36 hours to melt the raw K. material and approximately a further 12 hours to remove the molten material depending on the rate of glass production. Accordingly, over a 48 hour period, raw material can only be extracted during a twelve hour period.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems .

The invention, therefore, provides a pot which comprises a base, upstanding walls, a rear wall, a front wall and a roof defining a chamber; an internally located wall extending from the front wall to the rear wall so as to divide the chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber; an opening defined by the base and the internal wall for permitting in use, molten material to flow from the first sub-chamber to the second sub-chamber; the front wall having a first opening and second opening in register with the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber respectively; and wherein raw material may be inserted into the first subchamber via the first opening; and molten material may be withdrawn from the second sub-chamber via the second opening.

Preferably, the first sub-chamber has an opening for enabling direct heating of the raw material therein.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pot according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation, of the pot of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 3 is a plan view of the pot of Figure 1 of the drawings; * Figure 4 is a side elevation of the pot of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified pot of Figure 1 of the drawings; and Figure 6 is a side elevation of the pot of 0 Figure 5 of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a pot 10 according to the invention which comprises a chamber 11 defined by a base 12, a front wall 13, a rear wall 13a and side walls 14 which lead into a dome-shaped roof 15. The front wall 13 has two openings 16, 26.

The opening 16 is defined by a base 17, side walls 18, 19 and top 20. The opening 26 is defined by a base 27, side walls 28, 29 and a top 30.

The chamber 11 is divided into a first subchamber 11a and a second sub-chamber 11b by a wall 50. The wall 50 extends from the roof 15 in the direction of the base or floor 12 of the chamber 16 and further extends from the front wall 13 to the rear wall.

However, there is at least one opening 31 which provides communication between the first sub-chamber 11a and the second sub-chamber 11b.

The opening 16 is in communication with the first sub-chamber 11a; the opening 26 is in communication with the second sub-chamber 11b.

The entire pot 10 is made from fire clay capable of withstanding temperatures in the range 1200°C and 1800°C and the internal volume of each sub-chamber 11a, 11b is substantially the same. The means for heating the pot can be electrical, an oil-filled burner or a gas-fired burner.

In use, material is loaded into the first sub-chamber 11a via the opening 16 and into the sub-cham ber 11b via the opening 26. When sufficient material is in place, the opening is closed and, at a temperature of about 1200°C, the material becomes molten. The molten material flows through the opening 31 to the second sub-chamber 11b and the load of molten material in the sub-chambers 11a, 11b is equalised. Through the opening 26 the molten material may be withdrawn for making and shaping into articles made from glass. As the level of molten material in the first sub-chamber 11a falls a fur ther charge of raw material may be placed in the first sub-chamber 11a without affecting the quality of the mol ten material beneath it or the molten material in the second sub-chamber 11b.

Accordingly, it is possible for the pot 10 to be simultaneously loaded with, raw material through the opening 16 into the sub-chamber 11a while allowing for the withdrawal of molten material from the second sub-chamber 11b.

With reference now to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a modified pot 10a according to the invention. The pot 10 a. has all the features of the pot 10 except that the roof 15 above the chamber 11a has an opening 60 therein. The opening 60 does not extend across to the roof 15 over thd second sub-chamber 11b.

Again, as described with respect to the pot 10, raw material is loaded into the first sub-chamber 11a via the opening 16. The opening 60 enables the flames of a gas burner (not shown), which provides the necessary heat to raise the temperature of the pot 10a to about 1450°C, to be in direct contact with the raw material thus providing for a faster more efficient melt ing time for the raw material.

The pot 10 or 10a according to the invention can be used continuously over about a thirteen week period after which it is discarded. If desired, the pot 10 or 10a may incorporate an insert as disclosed in the co-pending Patent Application filed simultaneously with the present Application.

The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments described which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention. / -

Claims

1. A pot which comprises a base, upstanding walls, a rear wall, a front wall and a roof defining a chamber; an internally located wall extending from the front wall to the rear wall so as to divide the chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber; an opening defined by the base and the internal wall for permitting in use, molten material to flow from the first sub-chamber to the second sub-chamber; the front wall having a first opening and second opening in register with the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber respectively; and wherein raw material may be inserted into the first sub-chamber via the first opening; and molten material may be withdrawn from the second sub-chamber via the second opening.

2. A pot as claimed in Claim 1 wherein raw material may be inserted into the first sub-chamber and molten material may be simultaneously withdrawn from the second sub-chamber.

3. A pot as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 capable of withstanding temperature in the range 1200°C to 1800°C.

4. A pot as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3 wherein the internal volume of the sub-chambers is substantially the same.

5. A pot as claimed in any of Claims 1-4 wherein the roof of the first sub-chamber has an opening therein for enabling, in use, direct heating of the raw material therein.

6. A pot as claimed in any of Claims 1-5 wherein means is provided for heating the pot to the required temperature.

7. A pot as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the heating 5 means comprises a gas-fired burner.

8. A pot as claimed in Claim 7 when dependent on Claim 4 wherein the opening enables flames from the gas-fired burner to be directed directly on to the raw material.

9. A pot substantially as hereinbefore described with 10. Reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-4 of the drawings.

10. A pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5-6 of the drawings.