IE62141B1

IE62141B1 - Improvements in or relating to a pot

Info

Publication number: IE62141B1
Application number: IE390989A
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: GB2238859A; ZA903562B; GB9010050D0; GB2238859B

Abstract

A pot primarily of fire clay construction and suitable for use at temperatures of between 1200 DEG C and 1800 DEG C which pot comprises a base (12), upstanding side walls (14), a rear wall, a front wall (13) and a roof (15) which together define a chamber (11). A closable opening in one of the walls for the movement of material therethrough is also provided. The opening has a base portion (17), upstanding walls (18, 19) and a roof portion (20). At least part of the opening comprises a material other than fire clay capable of withstanding temperatures of between 1200 DEG C and 1800 DEG C. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material other than fire clay is zircon mullite.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A POT This invention relates to improvements - in or relating to a pot. In particular, it relates to a pot furnace of the type used for enabling the ingredients which are used in the manufacture of glass to be melted.

A pot is made from fire clay containing about 30% AI2O3, 60% Si©2 and 10% of other known constituents.

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 1430°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.

The pot is in continuous use and following a period of about thirteen weeks is discarded due to wear and tear primarily from th® high, temperatures used in the production of the molten product. The wear and tear is particularly evident in the walls of the opening and more particularly in the region of the base of the opening and the top of the opening.

Recently, it has been found that when using natural gas rather than oil as the fuel source for maintaining the temperature of the pot at the working temperature of about 1220°C, corrosion in the vicinity of the top of the opening has resulted in a deterioration in the pot to the extent that the normal thirteen week period of use is reduced to between nine and eleven weeks depending on the degree and nature of corrosion. Although the reason for the corrosion has not been fully determined, it is believed to be as'a result of improved and more stable temperature conditions associated with the use of the natural gas as the fuel source. This, it is believed, has resulted in the production of gases which can escape through the mouth of the pot and which result in a more rapid * deterioration in the region of th& fop of the opening. With the deterioration in the top of the opening, the fire clay material falls into the chamber thus leading to an unacceptable level of contamination of the contents therein.

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

The invention, therefore, provides a pot primarily of fire clay construction and suitable for use at temperatures of between 1200°C and 1800°C which pot comprises a base, upstanding side walls, a rear wall, a front wall and a roof which together define a chamber; a closable opening in one of the walls for the movement of material therethrough; the opening having a base portion, upstanding walls and a roof portion; and wherein at least part of the opening comprises a material other than fire clay capable of withstanding temperatures of between 1200°C and 1800°C.

Preferably, tbe opening is located in the front wall.

Preferably, the material is located in the roof portion of the opening.

Preferably, the material is zircon mullite.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a preferred embodiment 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; & G> · Figure 2 is a perspective view of an insert for use in the pot of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the insert of Figure 2 of the drawings; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the insert of Figure 2 of the drawings; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of part of the pot of Figure 1 of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a pot 10 in accordance with the invention which comprises a chamber 11 defined by a base 12, a front wall 13, a rear wall (not shown) and side walls 14 which lead into a dome-shaped roof 15. The front wall 13 has an opening 15 defined by a base 17, side walls 18, 19 and top 20. The base 12, front wall 13, the rear wall, the side walls 14 the base 17 and side walls 18, 19 ar© made from a fire clay capable of withstanding »i temperatures of between 1200°C and 1800°C, The top 20 comprises a material other than fire clay capable of withstanding temperatures between 1200°C and i800°C In the present embodiment the material is zircon mullite.

Referring now to Figures 2-4 of the drawings, there is shown the insert or top 20 which has a shape and configuration so as to provide a curved shaped upper section to the opening 16. Th© insert 20 has an upper part 21 and a curved shaped lower part 22 including a front wall 23 and a r.ear wall (not shown) .

The top 20 is manufactured separately from a pot. Essentially, the pot is manufactured entirely of fire clay. Following curing, an opening or slot of suitable dimensions is cut into the roof 15 and a section of the fire clay is removed. Through the slot Is inserted the insert 20 with the legs 24, 25 being first inserted. The insert 20 is located so that the legs 24, 25 rest on side walls 18, 19. Following insertion, the insert 20 is sealed in position by zircon mullite and the recess, if present, over the upper part 21 is filled with a high temperature grade cement. The resulting combination constitutes the pot 10 according to the invention.

Following curing of the cement, the pot 10 according to the invention is ready for us®. The pot 10 may be used in a conventional manner. In other words, raw material for use in the production of glass may be inserted into the chamber 11 via the opening 16 with the pot at a temperature of about 1350°C. Following the required period for the melting of the raw material, the melted material is withdrawn using suitable tools and glass products made therefrom. The pot 10 according to the invention is designed for use continuously over a thirteen week period. This is achieved particularly when using natural gas as the fuel source for heating the furnace where the deterioration in the top 20 is significantly less when compared with a conventional pot made entirely of fire clay. In addition, the level of contamination of the contents of’the pot 10 by pieces of fir© clay falling into the chamber 16 is significantly reduced.

Having regard to the fact that the pot 10 can now be used for virtually the thirteen week period, significant capital expenditure savings may be achieved.

A typical chemical analysis in respect of the zircon mullite is given below SiO2 15 % &12O3 73 % SrO2 11.1 % Fe2O3 0.2 % TiO2 0.15% CaO 0.10% MgO 0.10% Na2O <0.30% K2O 0.10% Apparent Porosity Bulk Density Refractoriness Cold Crushing Strength Reversible Thermal Expansion 20°C-1000°C 1 2.851 HN.sr2 0.63%

Claims

1. CLAIMS;

1. A pot primarily of fire clay construction and suitable for use at temperatures of between 1200°C and 1800°C which pot comprises a base, upstanding side 5 walls, a rear wall, a front wall and a roof which together define a chamber; a closable opening in one of the walls for the movement of material therethrough; the opening having a base portion, upstanding walls and a roof portion; and wherein at least part of the opening 10 comprises a material other than fire clay capable of withstanding temperatures of between 1200°C and 1800°C.

2. A pot as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the opening is located in the front wall.

3. A pot as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the 15 material is located in the roof portion of the opening.

4. A pot as claimed in any of Claims 1-3 wherein the material is zircon mullite.

5. A pot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying draw20 ings.