LV13185B - Forehearth feeder tube lift system cross-reference to related application - Google Patents

Abstract

A glass melting furnace forehearth installation offered includes a feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl comprising a generally horizontally extending elongate support arm (30) having an opposed pair of ends; a generally vertically extending feeder tube (22); means (80) carried by said support arm for releasably securing said feeder tube to said support arm at a location adjacent an end of said support arm; a generally vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator (44) supporting said support arm (30) at a locating between said opposed ends, said servo motor actuated linear actuator being operable to adjust the elevation of said support arm. The method offered of replacing a feeder bowl (B) of a glass melting furnace forehearth installation is characterized by lifting the support arm (30) until the lowermost end of the feeder tube (22) is above the feeder bowl (B); pivoting the support arm (30) about an axis spaced from the feeder tube (22) until the feeder tube is no longer in vertical alignment with the feeder bowl (B): and lifting the feeder bowl (B) from its installed position without otherwise removing the support arm (30).

Description

LV 13185

FOREHEARTH FEEDER TUBE LIFT SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting fumace forehearth. More particularly, this invention relates to a clamp down system for releasably clamping a feeder tube in its operating position. 2. Description of the Prior Art U.S. Patent 5,718,741 (Hull et al.), which is assigned to the assignee of this application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a forehearth for cooling a stream of molten glass as it flows from a glass melting fumace to a forming machine for forming the molten glass into finished products, for example, hollow glass containers of the type widely used in packaging various food, beverage and other products. In the arrangement of the ‘741 Patent, and in a variety of other types of forehearths, molten glass flows downwardly through an opening, or a plurality of openings, in the bottom of a feeder bowl at an end of the forehearth that is remote from the end into which molten glass from the melting fumace flows. 1

To control the flow of molten glass from a forehearth feeder bowl, a vertically extending, refractory feeder tube is provided with its lowermost end immersed in the feeder bowl to a Ievel slightly above the inside surface of the bottom of the feeder bowl and surrounding the opening(s) at the bottom of the feeder bowl, and the ceramie tube is 5 caused to rotate slowly during the operation of the forehearth to ensure a proper mixing and temperature uniformity of the molten glass flowing from the feeder bowl. A feeder bowl refractory tube with a tube drive system of this general type is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,660,610 (DiFrank), which is also assigned to the assignee of this application, the disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference herein. Other glass forehearth 10 feeder bowI feeder tube arrangements are deseribed in U.S. Patents 5,693,114 (Scott), 4,514,209 (Mumford), and 4,478,631 (Mumford), the disclosure of each of vvhich is also incorporated by reference herein.

From time to time during the operation of a glass manufaeturing system of a type employing a forehearth feeder bowl feeder tube of the type deseribed above it is 15 necessary to remove the feeder tube and/or the feeder bowl for repair or replacement. In the case of the replacement of the feeder bowl, the feeder tube must also be swung horizontally out of the way of the feeder bowl as well as being lifted vertically so that its lower edge clears the upper extent of the feeder bowl. It is also necessary from time to time to be able to adjust the height of the feeder tube. As a feeder tube of this type is quite 20 massive, very large forces are required to lift it from its operating position. Heretofore, countenveighted lift mechanisms were employed for this purpose, and these mechanisms 2 LV 13185 typically employed gear boxes with considerable backlash, thus making precise positioning and motions of the feeder tube very difficult. Moreover, in these arrangements, precise adjustment of the position of the feeder tube in a horizontal planē, in X and/or Y directions, was difficult to achieve in that the horizontal motions of the countenveight lift mechanisms 5 could not be isolated along X or Y axes. Further, countenveighted lift mechanisms are cumbersome because of the dead vveights employed in them, and the vertical feeder tube slide supports are subject to wear during up and down tube adjustments, which can impart a vvobbiing motion to the tube support system and thereby Iead to undesired glass gob weight variation in a feeder bowl used in conjunction with a glass Container forming 10 machine of the individual section (I.S.) type. Also, from time to time, it is necessary to replace a feeder bowl itself. In the prior art, this required removal of the entire feeder tube mechanism itself. A feeder tube in apparatus of the type described is releasably held in place by a circumferentially spaced apart plurality of clamps. Heretofore, it has been difficult to release such clamps, which typically involved threaded members, because of IS the tendency of such members to corrode in the high temperature environment of a feeder

tube installation and the need for workers to wear temperature resistant gloves during this procedure, gloves that are quite bulky SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention of the aforesaid co-pending U.S. patent 20 application, the aforesaid and other problems associated with prior art glass forehearth feeder bowl feeder tube lift systems are avoided by a feeder tube lift system that employs a 3 single, multiple shaft, servo motor operated, bail screw lift mechanism of sufflcient capacity to sustain a cantilevered feeder tube support mechanism with minimal deflection. Such a lift mechanism involves no, or very little, backlash in its motions, thereby permitting precise control of the elevation of the lift tube in the feeder bowl, which is 5 important in achieving accurate control of glass gob weight in an I.S. machine glass

Container manufacturing operation.

The feeder tube lift mechanism of the present invention is also capable of true isolated adjustments in a horizontal planē, both along X and Y axes, and it can be moved without slide wear, thereby avoiding introduction of wobbling motion to the tube 10 support system. The servo motor powered bail screw lift mechanism of the present invention is lubricated by a lubricant that is recirculated within a closed system to ensure long life for bearings of the mechanism and the bail roller nut, and avoiding lubricant leakage and the need for lubricant replacement.

According to the invention of the aforesaid co-pending U.S. patent 15 application, and according to an improved version of such invention according to this patent application, there is provided an improved clamp for releasably clamping a feeder tube engaging clamping ring in its clamping position against a flange of the feeder tube while the feeder tube is in its operating position with respect to the rotatable support. Each such clamp has a variable radius cam that is rotatable about a radially extending horizontal 20 axis to make secure contact with the clamping ring regardless of the elevation of the feeder tube, but which is capable of being svvung out of interfering contact with the feeder tube to 4 LV 13185 permit the feeder tube to be removed for repair or replacement after first removing the clamping ring used to engage a flange of the feeder tube.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clamp down system for clamping a feeder tube of the type employed in a glass forehearth 5 feeder bowl. More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp down system that is rapidly releasable in that it does not require threaded fasteners in its design or installation.

For further understanding of the present invention and the objects thereof, attention is directed to the drawing and the following brief description thereof, to the 10 detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAAVING

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a feeder tube assembly incorporating a clamp down system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 15 Fig. 2 is a plān view of the feeder tube assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, at an enlarged scale, of a portion of the feeder tube assembly shovvn in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; 20 Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; 5 5

Fig .7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the feeder tube assembly ofFigs. 1-6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, of a portion of the feeder tube assembly ofFigs. 1-6;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 at a right angle thereto;

Fig. 10 is a plān view of an element of the feeder tube assembly ofFigs. 1- 6;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10; and 10

Fig. 12 is an exploded, perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a modified form of the apparatus illustrated therein; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a feeder tube assembly that incorporates a plurality of the devices of Fig. 13.

\S

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A feeder tube assembly in which the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used is identified generally by reference numeral 20 in the dravving. The feeder tube assembly 20 includes a refractory feeder tube 22 which, as is shown in Fig. 3, is adapted to be inserted into a molten glass feeder bowl B at the outlet end of a generally horizontally extending molten glass cooling forehearth, othenvise not shown, which may be of conventional construction. The feeder tube 22 is vertically oriented in the feeder tube 6 20 LV 13185 assembly 20, and its lovvermost end is positioned slightly above the inside surface of the feeder bowl B, to thereby allow molten glass to flow through the space below the feeder tube 22 to exit through openings 0 at the bottom of the feeder bowl B.

The feeder tube 22 has an outwardly projecting flange 24 at its upper end, 5 and the flange 24 is clamped in a clamping ring subassembly 86, Fig. 3, which is provided with lifting eyes 18, Fig. 4, and serves to support the feeder tube 22 on an inwardly projecting flange 26 of a rotatable ring subassembly 28. The rotatable ring subassembly 28 is cantilevered at the end of a support arm 30, and the subassembly 28 iņcludes an upwardly facing ring gear 32, Fig. 2, and is caused to rotate slowly with respect to the 10 support arm 30 by the engagement of the ring gear 32 by a driven pinion 34 at an end of a driven rod 36, which is driven by a motor 38 acting through a speed reducer 40, ali of which are supported on the support arm 32 at an end opposed to the end on which the feeder tube 22 is suspended. The rotation of the feeder tube 22 helps to properly mix the molten glass in the feeder bowI B to thereby ensure proper homogeneity and temperature 15 uniformity of the molten glass exiting through the openings O, Fig. 3.

The support arm 30 is supported along a vertically extending axis A that extends through a handle 42, which serves to lock the support arm in a non-adjustable and a non-pivotable position as will be hereinafter described more fully. The support arm 30 is also adjustably supported for precisely controllable motion along the axis A oh a vertically 20 extending servo motor powered precision linear actuator 44, Fig. 1, a cylinder portion 44a,

Fig. 5, of which is secured to the framework 46 of the feeder tube assembly 20. The linear 7 actuator 44 is of a type that is available from E-Drive Design, Inc. of Glastonbury, CT under the product designation Modei EA2S-7.312-L/D-1836, and will be subsequently described in greater detail. The support arm 30 has an opening 48, Fig. 5, extending therethrough concentric with the axis A and generally concentric with the longitudinal 5 centra! axis of the linear actuator 44. A spaced apart plurality of rods 50 extend outwardly and upwardly from the linear actuator 44 and are caused to reciprocate in unison along vertical axes by the actuation of the linear actuator 44. The rods 50 are non-rotatably received in a block 52 of a composite adjustment mechanism 54, which is supported on an inverted cup-shaped structure 56 that is secured to the upper surface of the support arm 30, 10 Fig. 5.

The adjustment mechanism 54 includes an upper plate 58, and the support arm 30 is moveable relative to the upper plate 58 along opposed spaced apart slot 60 in the structure 56, which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support arm 30 to provide for precisely controllable adjustment of the support arm 30, and thereby of the i 5 feeder tube 22, in the X direction. To accomplish such adjustment, an adjusting screw 62, which is threadably received in the structure 56a, has an inner end that engages the upper plate 58, and the tuming of the adjustment screw 62 is effective to move the support arm 30 to or fro in the X direction relative to the adjustment mechanism 54, whose position in an horizontal planē is fixed by virtue of the attachment of the linear actuator 44 to the 20 framework 46, as described. 8 LV 13185

The adjustment mechanism 54 also includes a lower plate 64, and the support arm 30 is moveable relative to the lower plate 64 along opposed, spaced apart slots 66 in the cup-shaped structure 56, which extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the support arm 30, to provide for precisely controllable adjustment of the support arm 30, and 5 thereby of the feeder tube 22, in the Y direction. To accomplish such adjustment, an adjustment screw 68, which is threadably received in an extension of the upper plate 58, has an inner end that engages a boss portion 70 of the cup-shaped structure 56, and tuming of the adjustment screw 68 moves the support arm to or fro in the Y direction relative to the adjustment mechanism 54. Of course, when the handle 42 is tightened dovm against 10 the boss 70, the support arm 30 will be frictionally prevented from moving relative to the adjustment mechanism 54, either in the X direction or the Y direction.

Because of the high temperature environment in which the feeder tube 22 is used, it is important to cool the end of the support arm 30 from which the feeder tube 22 is suspended. To that end, an annular passage 72, Fig. 2, is provided in the support arm 30 ib surrounding and extending generally concentrically of the feeder tube 22, and cooling air or other cooling fluid is caused to flow through the passage 72 from inlet and outlet lines 74, 76, respectively. Further, a generally semi-cylindrical heat shield 78 is suspended form the support arm 30 at a location partly surrounding the upper end of the linear actuator 44, and between the linear actuator 44 and the feeder tube 22, to retard heating of the linear 20 actuator 44 by heat radiated from the feeder bowl B. 9

The flange 24, Fig. 3, of the feeder tube 22 is securely, but releasably, held in engagement with the flange 26 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart latch mechanisms, each generally identified by reference numeral 80, Fig. 1, three such latch mechanisms being shown in Fig. 2. Each latch mechanism 80 comprises a Iever 82, Fig. 3, 5 with a handle portion 82a at an end thereof and an enlarged cam portion 82b at an opposed end. -Thedever 82 is pivotably connected to a support member 84 about an axis C and, when the Iever extends vertically, the cam portion 82b securely engages and upper surface of the clamping ring 86 which engages the flange 24 of the feeder tube 22 to forcibly press the flange 24 into its desired operating position. When the Iever 82 is pivoted to a 10 horizontai orientation, the cam portion 82b no longer engages the ring 86, Fig. 7. In this position, the feeder tube 22 may be removed from the feeder bowl B by a simple lifting motion, using the lifting eyes 18, Figs. 2 and 14. The latch mechanisms 80 are moveable out of alignment with the feeder tube 22 by pivotably connecting the support member 84 to a fixed structure 88 about an axis D. In that regard, the support member 84 is slidable 15" toward an enlarged area 88a of the fixed structure 88, where it can then be pivoted about the axis D out of interfering relationship with the clamping 86. Before installing a new feeder tube 20, the support arm 30 should be elevated so that the new feeder tube 20 does not contact the feeder bowl B.

The pivoting of the support arm 30 about the axis A is done when it is 20 desired to replace a feeder bowl B. After releasing the feeder tube 22 from its engaged position by the release of the latch mechanisms 80, as heretofore described, and after the 10 LV 13185 actuation of the linear actuator 44 to lift the support arm 30 to an elevation such that the bottom of the feeder tube 22 is free of the feeder bowl B, the feeder tube 22 is then hoisted from the subassembly 28. To this end, the upper plate 58 of the adjustment mechanism 54 is pivotable with respect to the lower plate 64, after removal of an alignment pin 114 that 5 circumferencially aligns the upper plate 58, the Iovver plate 64 and the block 52 with respecttoone another during the operation of the feeder tube assembly 20.

The linear actuator 44 is powered by an a.c. servo motor 90, which is co-axially connected to the actuator 44, though it is contemplated that the connection can be by way of parallel axes with a V-belt or other drīve extending therebetween. In any case, 10 an assembly including the actuator 44 and the servo motor 90 is available from E-Drive

Design of Glastonbury, CT, as heretofore described. As is shown in Fig. 8, the motor 90 has a hollow output shaft 92. The hollow output shaft of the motor 90 is slipped onto an input shaft 94 of the linear actuator 44 (Figs. 8 and 11), vvhich has an internai bail screw drive 96. The bail screw drive 96 translates rotary motion of the shaft 92 into linear 1S motion of an annular member 98, either to or fro depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft 92.

The annular member 98 may be manually positioned by tuming a Iever 102, vvhich is fixed to the shaft 92. The shaft 92 extends to a Ievel below the motor 90, actually below the Ievel of an arcuate heat shield 100 that protects the motor 90 from thermal 20 radiation from the feeder bowl B, and the Iever 102 extends outwardly from the shaft 92.

The Iever 102 has a handle 104 projecting downwardly therefrom, at a location radially 11 outwardly of the shaft 92, and the shaft 92 may be turned by manually engaging the handle 104 and using it to tum the Iever 102.

The motor 90 is provided with an annular brake 106 that rotates with the shaft 92, and the brake 106 is selectively engageable by a double-ended constricting band 108. The band 108, when in its non-constricting mode, does not engage the brake 106 and provides no braking effect in such mode. However, the band 108 can be selectively tightened by the actuation of a pneumatic cylinder 110 acting through a linkage system 112, and, when the cylinder 110 is retracted, as shown in Fig. 12, the band 108 will be constricted to engage the brake 106, thus retarding tuming action of the shaft 92,94 and thereby locking the platform 30 in a desired elevation.

The linear actuator 44 requires constant lubrication in Service, and to that end a plurality of lubricating oil inlet lines 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126 and 128 (Fig. 4) to deliver lubricating oil from a common source (not shown) to various locations of the linear actuator 44. These locations include inlets 130, 132 (Fig. 11) of the cylinder 44a of the linear actuator 44 and each of the four (4) rods 50 (Fig. 6) that extend thereffom. The lubricating oil is collected at the bottom of the cylinder 44a and retumed to the source for recycling, by way of a retum line 134 (Fig. 4) preferably after being filtered and cooled if necessary, with a supply of fresh, make-up oil being provided to make up for any oil losses in the system. The lubricating system, as described, is a closed system that provides adequate lubrication for ali moving surfaces while simultaneously minimizing lubricant LV 13185 losses in a hot and relatively inaccessible environment and serving to conserve a producē derived from expensive and irreplaceable natūrai resources.

In Figs. 13 and 14 elements that differ from, but correspond in function to, elements of the embodiment of Fig. 1-12 are identified by 200 series reference numerals, 5 the last two digits of which are the two digits of the corresponding element of the embodiment of Figs. 1-12.

Fig. 13 illustrates a latch mechanism 280, and three such latch mechanisms 280 are illustrated in Fig. 14 in circumferentially spaced apart relationship to one another. Each latch mechanism 280 comprises a Iever 282 with a handle portion 282a at an end 10 thereof and an enlarged cam portion 282b at an opposed end, the handle portion 282a extending from a position that is betvveen the ends of the cam portion 282b whereas the handle portion 82a of the Iever 80 of the embodiment of Fig. 7 is aligned with an end of the cam portion 82b. In that regard, the cam portion 282b of the Iever 282 has a profilē that is more universally applicable to various installations than is the profilē of the cam portion 82b of the Iever 82 because of variations in the thickness of the flange portion 24 of the feeder tube 22 from installation to installation. The Iever 282 is pivotally connected to a support member 84 about an axis and when the Iever 282 extends vertically, the cam portion 282b securely engages a recessed bottom in a notch 286a of a clamping ring 286, which engages the flange 24 of the feeder tube 22 to forcibly press the flange 24 into its 20 desired operating position. The use of the notch 286a in the clamping ring 286 facilitates better engagement of the clamping ring 286 by the cam portion 282b of the Iever 282, and 13 it also facilitates easier release of the clamping action of the Iever 280 when it is desired to change the feeder tube 22 when the Iever 282 is pivoted to a horizontal orientation, the cam portion 282b no longer engages the clamping ring 286. In this position, the clamping ring 286 may be lifted out of position, as is shown in phantom in Fig. 14, to thereupon permit 5 the feeder tube 22 to be lifted out of position, it first being necessaiy to move each of the latch-mechanisms 280 out of interfering alignment vvith the clamping with the clamping ring 286 and the feeder tube 22. This is done by sliding the support member 84 to the enlarged area 88a of the fixed structure 88 and then by pivoting the support member 84 about the axis D out of interfering relationship with the clamping ring 286. 10 Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the present invention as of the filing datē hereof has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that suitable modifications, variations, and equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, such scope being limited solely by the terms of the follovving claims and the legal equivalents thereof. What is claimed is: 14 15 LV 13185

Claims 1- A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl, said feeder tube assembly comprising: a generally horizontally extending elongate support arm (30) having an opposed pair of ends; a generally vertically extending feeder tube (22) ; means (80) carried by said support arm for releasably securing said feeder tube to said support arm at a location adjacent an end of said support arm; a generally vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator (44) supporting said support arm (30) at a location between said opposed ends, said servo motor actuated linear actuator being operable to adjust the elevation of said support arm. 2. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising: means (32, 34, 36, 38) carried by said support arm (30) for rotating said feeder tube (22) relative to said support arm about a longitudinal Central axis of said feeder tube. 3. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 1 wherein: said support arm (30) has an opening (48) positioned between its opposed ends, said opening being vertically 16 aligned with a longitudinal central axis of said linear actuator, said support arm being rotatable with respect to said linear actuator about said longitudinal Central axis of said linear actuator. 4. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 3 and further comprising: 10 means (54, 62) for adjusting the position of said support arm (30) relative to said linear actuator (44) along an axis extending longitudinally of said support arm. 5. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including 15 a feeder tube assembly according to Claim 4 and further comprising: means (54, 66) for adjusting the position of said support arm (30) relative to said linear actuator (44) along an axis extending transversely of said support arm. 20 6. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 1 wherein: said generally vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator (44) comprises a bail screw 25 mechanism (96) for translating rotary motion of an output shaft of said servo motor to linear motion. 7. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 6 wherein: 30 said generally vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator (44) further comprises means (106, 108) for releasably braking said servo motor (90) against rotation. 17 LV 13185 8. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 1 wherein: said support arm (30) has a second opening, said second opening of said support arm being vertically aligned with said feeder tube, and ftuther comprising: means (72, 74, 76) for cooling said support arm (30) in an annular pattern at a location adjacent said second opening. 9. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 6 wherein: said linear actuator (44) has a housing (44a) and a member at least partly contained within said housing and being moveable with respect to said housing between first and second positions as a result of rotary motion of said output shaft of said servo motor (90), and further comprising: a fixed support structure (46), said housing (44a) being fixedly secured to said fixed support structure (46) . 10. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 9 wherein said linear actuator (44) further comprises: a block (52); a space apart plurality of rods (50) extending from said member of said linear actuator (44) to said block (52); and means for tightening said support arm (30) relative to said block (52) for preventing rotation of said support arm relative to said linear actuator. 18 11. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 9 wherein said linear actuator (44) has an input shaft (94), said input shaft of said linear actuator being integral with said output shaft (92) of said servo motor (90), and further comprising: means (102, 104) for turning said input shaft (94) of said linear actuator and said output shaft (92) of said servo motor (90) independently of operation of said servo motor (90). 12. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said feeder tube comprises: a ring gear assembly (28) generally concentrically positioned with respect to said feeder tube (22), said ring gear (32) being non rotatable with respect to said feeder tube; a pinion gear (34) engaging said ring gear (32); and means (36, 38) for imparting rotary motion to said pinion gear. 13. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a feeder tube assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising: closed lubricating oil circulating means (116-128) for continuously lubricating said servo motor actuated linear actuator (44). 14. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation particularly according to one of the claims 1 through 13 and including a latch mechanism (80, 280) for releasably securing a clamping ring (86, 286) to a flange (24) of a 19 LV 13185 feeder tube (22), said latch mechanism comprising: a Iever (82, 282) having a handle portion (82a, 282a) and a cam portion (82b, 282b) with a rounded cam surface, said handle portion extending outwardly from said cam portion away from said rounded cam surface; a support member (30), said Iever (82, 282) being pivotally connected to said support member at a location near an end of said support member; and a fixed member (46), said support member (30) being pivotally connected, near an opposed end of said support member, to said fixed member,- pivoting of said support member (30) with respect to said fixed member (46) being effective to swing said Iever (82, 282) out of interfering contact with the clamping ring (86, 282) to permit the clamping ring to be lifted out of engagement with the flange (24) of the feeder tube (22). 15. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a latch mechanism according to claim 14 wherein said handle portion (82a) extends outwardly from said cam portion (82b) at a location at an end of said cam portion. 16. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation including a latch mechanism according to claim 14 wherein said handle portion (282a) extends outwardly from said cam portion (282b) at a location between ends of said cam portion. 17. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation in combination with a clamping ring of a type used to engage a flange (24) of a feeder tube (22), said clamping ring 20 (86, 286) having an upper surface, a latch mechanism (80, 280) for releasably engaging said upper surface of said clamping ring, said latch mechanism comprising: a Iever (82, 282) having a handle portion (82a, 282a) and a cam portion (82b, 282b) with a rounded cam surface, said handle portion extending outwardly from said cam portion away from aid rounded cam surface; a support member (30), said Iever (82, 282) being pivotally connected to said support member at a location near an end of said support member; and a fixed member (46), said support member (30) being pivotally connected at a location near an opposed end of said support member, to said fixed member (46); pivoting of said support member (30) with respect to said fixed member (46) being effective to swing said Iever (82, 282) out of interfering contact with the clamping ring (86, 282) to permit the clamping ring to be lifted out of engagement with the flange (24) of the feeder tube (22). 18. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation according to claim 17 wherein said clamping ring (286) has a notch (286a) that is engaged by said rounded cam surface of said Iever (282) when said Iever is in clamping engagement with said clamping ring (286). 19. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation according to claim 18 wherein said handle portion (282a) extends outwardly from said cam portion (282b) at a location between ends of said camp portion. 20. A glass melting furnace forehearth installation according to claim 17 wherein said handle portion extends outwardly 21 LV 13185 from said handle portion at a location at an end of said cam portion.

The method of replacing a feeder bowl (B) of a glass melting furnace forehearth installation, the feeder bowl having an installed position in the installation, the installation having a feeder tube assembly with a generally horizontally extending elongate support arm (30) and a feeder tube (22) rotatably secured to an end of the support arm and normaily positioned with a lowermost end immersed in the feeder bowl, the method comprising: lifting the support arm (30) until the lowermost end of the feeder tube (22) is above the feeder bowl (B) ; pivoting the support arm (30) about an axis spaced from the feeder tube (22) until the feeder tube is no longer in vertical alignment with the feeder bowl (B); and then lifting the feeder bowl (B) from its installed position without otherwise removing the support arm (30). LV 13185

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting fumace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its 5 longitudinal Central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal centra! axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent 10 rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm. The position of the support arm relative to the linear actuator is independently adjustable both longitudinally of the support arm and transversely of the support arm, and the support arm is rotatable with respect to the linear actuator when it is desired to replace a feeder tube carried thereby or 15 the feeder bowl directly below it. 22

Claims (18)

EN 13185 DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Glass feed furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device for a fluidised bed, said feed tube device comprising: - a generally horizontally extending longitudinal support bracket (30) having an opposite end, - a generally vertical feed tube (22), means (80) held by said support bracket to disassemble said feed tube to said support bracket in a position adjacent to the end of said bracket, generally a vertically driven servo-driven linear actuator (44) supporting said bracket (30) between said opposite ends, said servomotor-driven linear actuator being operated to set the elevation of said support bracket. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device according to claim 1, further comprising: - a means (32, 34, 36, 38) supported by said support bracket (30) for rotating said feed tube (22) relative to said support bracket around the central longitudinal axis of the feed tube. The glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device according to claim 1, wherein said support bracket (30) is an opening (48) positioned between its opposite ends, said aperture being vertically aligned with said central actuator of said linear actuator, said support bracket is rotating relative to said linear actuator about said central longitudinal axis of said linear actuator. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device according to claim 3, further comprising: - a means (54, 62) for positioning said support bracket (30) relative to said linear actuator (44) along a longitudinal axis of said support bracket. 2 5. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed-tube device according to claim 4, further comprising: - a means (54, 66) for positioning said support bracket (30) relative to said linear actuator (44) transverse the axis of the said bracket. 6. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed-tube device according to claim 1, wherein said generally vertically-driven, servo-driven linear actuator (44) comprises a running screw mechanism (96) with a ball head for said servomotor output spindle rotation motion transformation for hinge motion. 7. A glass melting furnace feed channel assembly comprising a feed tube device according to claim 6, wherein said generally vertically-driven servomotor-driven linear actuator (44) further comprises means (106, 108) for said servomotor (90). for rotary unlocking with respect to rotation. 20 8. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed-tube device according to claim 1, wherein said support bracket (30) is a second opening, said second opening of said support bracket being vertically on one axis with said feed tube 25, and further comprising: - a means (72, 74, 76) for cooling said support bracket (30) in a ring configuration adjacent to said second opening. 9. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device according to claim 6, wherein said linear actuator (44) has a housing (44a) and an element at least partially contained within said housing and said servomotor (90) said the output shaft as a result of rotational movement 35 is movable between the first and second positions relative to said casing and further comprises: - a rigid support structure (46), said housing (44a) being rigidly attached to said rigid support structure (46). 3 EN 13185 A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed-tube device according to claim 9, wherein said linear actuator (44) further comprises: - a support (52), a plurality of spacers (50) spaced from said a linear actuator (44) of said element to said support (52), and - means for tensioning said support bracket (30) relative to said support (52) to prevent rotation of said support bracket relative to said linear actuator. The glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed-tube device according to claim 9, wherein said linear actuator (44) has an input shaft (94), said input shaft of said linear actuator being formed in one piece with said servomotor (90), further comprising: - means (102, 104) for rotating said input shaft (94) of said linear actuator and said output shaft (92) of said servomotor (90) independently of said servomotor (90) activities. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device according to claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said feed tube comprises: a ring gear (28) generally disposed centrally relative to said feed tube (22), said ring gear (32) is not rotatable with respect to said feed tube, - a drive gear (34) which engages with said annular gear (32), and - means (36, 38) for driving rotational motion to said drive gear. A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a feed tube device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealed lubricating oil circulation means (116-128) for continuous lubrication of said servo-driven linear actuator (44). 4 A glass melting furnace feed channel installation, in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a clamping mechanism (80, 280) for releasably attaching the press ring (86, 286) to the flange of the feed tube (22), said cage mechanism comprising: : A lever (82, 282) with a crank portion (82a, 282a) and a cam portion (82b, 282b) with a rounded cam surface, said crank portion extending outwardly from said cam portion away from said rounded cam surface , a support member (30), said lever (82, 282) being pivotally connected to said support member in a position close to the end of said support, and - rigidly securing the element (46), said bearing element (30) being articulated connected to said rigid element close to the opposite end of said support member 15, wherein said pivoting of said support (30) relative to said no. the movable element (46) is efficient enough to eject said lever (82, 282) from the interfering contact with the press ring (86, 282) and to allow the pressure ring to be lifted from the coupling by the flange (24) of the feed tube (22). 20 A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a latch assembly according to claim 14, wherein said crank portion (82a) extends outwardly from said cam portion (82b) in a position adjacent the end of said cam portion. 25 A glass melting furnace feed channel installation comprising a latch assembly according to claim 14, wherein said crank portion (282a) extends outwardly from said cam portion (282b) in a position between the ends of said cam portion. 30 17. Glass melting furnace feed channel installation in combination with a type of compression ring used to engage the flange (24) of the feed tube (22), said press ring (86, 286) having a top surface, and a clamping mechanism (80, 280) detachable. 35 with said upper surface of said press ring, said cage mechanism comprising: - a lever (82, 282) with a crank portion (82a, 282a) and a cam portion (82b, 282b) with a rounded cam surface, said crank portion extending to - a support member (30), said lever (82, 282) being pivotally connected to said support member in a position close to the end of said support, and - fixedly fixed to the element; (46), said supporting element (30) being pivotally connected to said stationary elements (46), which is close to the opposite end of said support member, wherein said rotation of said support (30) relative to said rigidly fixed member (46) is sufficiently effective to eject said lever (82, 282) from the interfering contact with the press ring (86, 282), and to allow the pressure ring to be lifted from the coupling by the flange (24) of the feed tube (22). 18. The glass melting furnace feed channel installation according to claim 17, wherein said press ring (286) has a hub (286a) by which said lever (282) engages said rounded pin (282) when clamped into said clamping ring (286). cam surface. 19. The glass melting furnace feed channel installation of claim 18, wherein said crank portion (282a) extends outwardly from said cam portion (282b) at a position between the ends of said cam portion. The glass melting furnace feeder installation according to claim 17, wherein said crank portion extends outwardly from said cam portion at a position at the end of said cam portion. 21. A method for replacing a fluidized bed (B) in a glass melting furnace feed channel installation with a mounting beam in the installation, the installation has a feed tube device with a generally horizontal longitudinal support bracket (30) and a feed tube (22) that is pivotally attached to the end of the support bracket and usually is positioned so that its lowest end is submerged in a pouring hole, which includes: - lifting the support bracket (30) until the lowest end of the feed tube (22) is above the fluidized bed (B), cutting the support bracket (30) around the axle with a gap from feeder tubes (22) until the feed tube is no longer in vertical alignment with the fluidized bed (B), and then lifting the fluid cup (B) from its installation position without removing the support bracket (30) required under other conditions.