US2108517A - Dual orifice feeder - Google Patents

Description

i Feb 15, 1938. \F. L. o. wADswoRTH 2,108,517

DUAL ORIFICE FEEDER 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 oiginl Filed oct. '24.

M Ilm |NvENToR Patented Feb. 15, 1938 PATENT OFFICE DUAL ORIFICE FEEDER Frank L. OtWadsworth, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Ball Brothers Company, Muncie, Ind., a.

corporation of Indiana Original application October 24, 1934, Serial No. 749,731. Divided and this application .lune 24,

1935, Serial No. 28,098

2s claims. (ol. ia- 55) My invention relates to a new type of twin or dual orifice feeder which is designed and adapted to a speed of operation much greater than that of the existing forms of individual feeder apparatus and which is commensurate with that of the largest multiple arm feeding machines, and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 749,731, filed October 24, 1934.

The primary object of my invention is, therefore, to very materially increase the output of the maximum number of feeding machines which may be used in conjunctionwith the usual form of melting furnace and in conjunction with this purpose to also substantially reduce the floor space required for each such machine so that a larger number of forming units may be assembled in the space available for their installation. The combined results in increasing the number of feeders and forming machines is to very greatly augment the possible production of fabricated ware from a tank of any given size which usually has a melting capacity substantially in excess of that of the forming machine equipment which can be installed in front of it.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for establishing two continuously flowing streams' of molten glass through dual or twin orifices in a forehearth structure, each of which is composed of a series of regularly recurrent sections of enlarged diameters connected together by sections of reduced diameters that are adapted to be severed, at these points of reduced diameters, into individual mold charges.

A further object is to provide novel means for alternately severing each of said streams, at the points of reduced diameters, into individual mold charges.

A still further object is to provide a shear mechanism composed of a pair of coaxially mounted shear blades which are adapted to be intermittently revolvedin opposite directions to move across each other rst under the center of one delivery orifice to sever a mold charge from one stream and then to move across each other under the center of the other orifice to sever a charge from the stream issuing through that orifice.

Other attendant objects and purposes of the present invention which presents a number of special features of operation and of structure, will be made apparent to those skilled in this art by the following description of various alternative exemplications and embodiments of my improved combination of feeder and severing mechthrough the forehearth illustrated in Fig. 1 on the plane VI-VI of that figure;

Fig. 'l is a partial longitudinal central section on the plane VII-VII of Fig. 1, illustrating the shear operating mechanism; v

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross section similar to Fig. 1 through a second form of my dual orifice feeder;

' Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line IX-IX of Fig. 8 illustrating the shape of the forehearth;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the feeder illustrated in Fig. 8 showing the horizontal relationship of the main elements of the assembly; and

Fig. 11 is a side view on reduced scale of the parts of the feeder construction illustrated in Fig. 10.

In general my improved apparatus for forming molten glass into individual mold charges includes a forehearth structure which is attached -to the front end of a suitable glass melting tank `or furnace and having dual or multiple orices therein with means associated with each orice for establishing continuously flowing streams of molten glass therethrough composed of a series of regularly recurrent sections of enlarged diameters connected together by sections of reduced diameters that are adapted to be severed at these points of reduced diameters into individual mold charges. The feeding means areso arranged that an enlarged portion of one stream is being formed while a portion of reduced size is being formed in the other stream, and mechanism is provided for alternately severing these streams into individual preshaped mold charges which are then delivered to a forming machine where the charges are shaped to their finished form. The feeding apparatus, the severing mechanism and the molds of the forming machine are all operated in synchronism with each other and are preferably so timed that a mold charge is delivered to one of the press molds while the charge in the other mold is being pressed into a blank and Ul y the pressed blank is delivered to the blow mold at the same time that another charge is delivered to that mold.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the feeder comprises an I-shaped forehearth A, having a pair of delivery orices E F at the front end, over which a pair of verticaliy reciprocable bells B B are positioned that are adapted to be periodically, but alternately, moved up and down to effect the segregation and delivery of preformed mold charges in alternate succession from the two orices. Each bell B B is detachably secured to the lower end of a hollow shaft I, which is rotatably mounted in a ball bearing race 2, that is carried on the outer end of a twin arm radius guide 3, and is partially counterbalanced by an adjustable tension spring fl. The upper portions of the hollow bell shafts I I are encircled by large spur gears 5 which are in engagement with each other .and which are driven by an elongated pinion 6 that permits the gears tc have aconsiderable range of vertical movement on the shafts I I. The pinion 6 carries a bevel gear 'I which is connected through miter gears 8 8 on shaft 9, miter gears IIJ IlI on cross shaft II, miter gear I2 on vertical shaft I3 and worm I4 with the drive shaft I5 of a constantly driven variable speed motor I6, consequently the spur gears 5 5 are also continuously driven. These gears 5 5 are not directly connected to the bell shafts I I but are rotatably carried on end thrust ball bearings I'I II which are supported by pivoted levers I8 I8 that are adapted to be rocked up and down on adjustable fulcrum pins III-I9. The levers I8 I8 are rocked up and down, to raise and lower the spur gears 5 5, by cams '2l-2| on the cross shaft II, as illustrated at the right of Figs. 2 and 3. A hand operated turnbuckle 22 is connected to each of the bell cranks so that the position of the fulcrum pins I9 I9 may be readily varied independently of each other. The cams 2l are so designed and so positioned on the shaft I I that as one of the pivoted levers I8 is being rocked upwardly to raise the spur gear 5 supported thereby, the other lever I3 is being rocked downwardly to lower the spur gear supported by that lever.

In order to raise and lower the bells B B as the spur gears 5 5 are being moved up and down through the rocking of the levers I8 I8, large disc heads 23-23 are carried on the upper ends of the bell supporting shaft I I which are operatively connected thereto by splined ball and socket joins ZII-Z. Each of the discs 23 is provided with three adjustable contact screws 2& 25-25 that are adapte-d to engage the adjacent upper surface of the corresponding spur gears 5 5 when the latter is lifted by the action of the lever-cam elements 2|, I9, I8, and I'I. From this construction, it is apparent that the spur gears 5 5 are lifted alternately into engagement with the corresponding disc head 23 and when this engagement occurs, the head 23 and shaft I connected thereto are also raised and are concurrently rotated through the fricticnal engagement of. the screws 25 with the top of the continuously driven spur gear 5; the speed of rotation being determined in part by the viscosity of the glass in which the lower en-d of the bell is immersed and in part by the amount of unbalanced weight which is supported by the lifted gear wheel 5. The range of upward movement of each bell is regulated and controlled by the adjustment of the fulcrum support I9 for the lifting lever I8 and the limit of downward movement is fixed by adjustable stop nuts 2G 26 on the ends of rods 2'I-2'I which engage the lower side of the radius arm guides 3 3 for the lower ball bearings 2 2 and thus support the bell and shaft assembly in its lowermost position.

The extreme upper ends of each of the hollow bell shafts I I are covered by cups 3ll 3ll having intermediate grooved portions 34 34. The upper portions of the cups -30 are connected to pressure supply lines 3I 3I and the intermediate grooved portions 34 34' are connected to vacuum conduits 32-32. The closed end of each cup 36 is provided with an adjustable check valve 33 which seats on the end of the hollow bell shaft I when the latter is raised to a predetermined height and thus cuts off communication between the pressure supply pipe 3I and the bell or segregation chamber B. The side wall of each of the hollow bell shafts I I is pierced with a row of narrow slots 34 which are so located that when the shaft is moved upward a connection will be established between the vacuum groove 3d in the cup and the chamber in the bell B. Each cup 35 is carried by a U-shaped yoke 35 35 which is pivoted at its rear end on the frame of the feeder assembly and is adjustably supported at its front end on a vertical pin 36 so as to vary the time and the degree of opening of the bell chamber to the vacuum connection. The cooperating adjustments of the range of upward movement of the bell shaft I through the adjustment of fulcrum pins I9 I9, the set position of the pressure check valves 33 33, and the height of the cups .3G-3E! permits the establishment of the desired relationship between the up and down movement of the bell and the alternate opening and closing of bell chamber B to the pressure and vacuum lines 3I 32.

if the mold charges are relatively small in volume, and the Idepth of the glass in the forehearth is relatively large, the feeder may be operated without the use of the vacuum connection; and in such a case the grooved portion of the bell shaft cap 30 is open to the atmosphere. But if the mold charges are relatively large, or if the bath of glass in the forehearth is relatively shallow it is desirable to use a vacuum (of the proper degree) to expedite the recharging of the segregation chamber at each upward movement of the bell B; and in order to reduce the time of such recharging to a minimum (and thus increase the speed of the operation) I preferably use a low sub-atmospheric pressure (i. e., a high vacuum) and' prevent any overcharging action by the lprovision of a hollow ball float Valve 38, made of nichrome, stainless steel, or other suitable material, not injuriously affected by Contact with molten glass, which floats upwardly as the level of glass rises in the segregation chamber, and closes communication between that chamber and the hollow shaft I, thereby preventing the glass from being drawn.

It will be observed that the external force, to which the glass is subjected during the accelerated delivery period while the glass is being expelled from the delivery orifice under the joint action of gravity and of super-atmospheric pressure is not released or relieved, that is, the valve 33 does not seat over the upper end of the hollow shaft I until the bell has been raised to a substantial height sufficient to establish a free open communication between the interior of the bell B and the surrounding forehearth, and as a result, any retractive action on the outflowing glass-due to the upward movement of the bellis eliminated. Further, since the slots 34 do not register with the groove 34 in the cup 30, until bell B and shaft l have been lifted to substantially the upper limit of their travel, the vacuum (when used) is not applied until the area of the communicating opening between the main body of glass in the forehearth and the interior of the bell is much greater than that of the delivery orifice F; and under such circumstances the flow of glass into the segregation chamber is much more rapid than its outflow through the orifice under the gravity head above it.

The cutting off of each successively formed mold charge at the proper time preferably at the points of natural necking is effective by a shear mechanism which is so designed as to operate alternately on the two streams issuing through the dual orifices F-F. This shear mechanism comprises two shear blades 40'-4| (Fig. 7) which are mounted on two vertical coaxial shafts 42-43 that are adapted to be intermittently and synchronously rotated inl opposite directions. The axis of the shear blade shafts 42-43 is positioned 'i midway between the centers of two delivery ori- :l the time of each cut, the shear blades lll-4i are also moved downward at a speed greater than that of the flowing glass so 'as to prevent any retardation of the flow and also to acceleratef the delivery of the severed charge to the receiving mold. y I

The shear blade supporting shafts 42-43 .are journaled in a frame 'i0 that is pivoted to the bottom of the forehearth structure and the shafts l2- t3 are rotated synchronously in opposite directions by a pair of. opposed miter gears 44-44.' one of which is secured to each vof the shaftsA l2-d3 and an intermediate driving pinion 45 on an intermittently driven shaft'69'that is geared through a bevel gear and pinion '6l-E8 to a vertical shaft 65 having universal joints t'therein.

In order that shaft 69 will berintermittently driven and the shear blades 4il-4I periodically revolved through 180 the lower end of the shaft 96 is secured to a Geneva wheel 63 having three external slots 64 therein. The interval of action of the Geneva Wheel 63 is only one-sixth and its interval o f rest is ve-sixths of the period of revolution of its' driving crank 15 which is secured to a vertical shaft T6 that is geared to a central drive shaft 59 by the worm and gear elements 'l'l-l-'i'S-Bll; The central driving shaft 59 is preferably rotated at a high speed by means of the variable speed motor i6 which is located at one side of the machine and is coupled to a sprocket wheel 8| on the shaft 59'by a `silent change drive 82.`

In order to impart a downward movement to the shear blades 49-41 as they cross each other under the centers of orifices F-F, to prevent the glass from piling up on the shears and to accelerate the delivery of the severed charge into the receiving mold, the end of the. shaft 69 extends through the frame 10 and hasja cam 'Il secured thereto which engages a roller l2 on the bottom of the forehearth and the downward movement of the shears is normally resisted by a spring 13 (see right hand end of Fig. '7). In order that the shear blades 49-4I will be driven at the proper speed relative to the forming machine and will be synchronized with the movement of that machine', I prefer to drive the operating mechanism (not shown) of the forming machine from the shaft 59.

The construction illustrated in Figs. l to '7 presents a number of novel and useful features which are not of themselves directly involved in carrying outthe hereinbefore described mode of operation but which contribute to the effectiveness of the results obtained thereby. Since a considerable part of the forming machine (not shown) is located in close proximity to the feeder forehearth, it is desirable to protect it as completely as possible from radiant heat. In order to accomplish this result I completely enclose the sides and bottom of the vforehearth'A in a metal box 90 that is constructed from sheets of stainless steel or nichrome alloy which have a relatively low coefficient of heat conductivity and which are also highly polished on both their interior and exterior surfaces. I also provide means for preventing the escape of hot gases of combustion through the roof of the forehearth by covering the major portion of it with another metal plate 9i which is provided with raised flanges 92 that form annular pockets 93 around the openings through which the upper ends of the feeder bells B-B and of the baille gate block 99 project and attaching to the supporting head these members B-B andr94 downwardly extending sheet metal skirts 95 that enter the said pockets 93. These pockets 93 are lled vwith a suitable fusible metal such as lead, zinc, cadmium alloys that become liquid Vat the normal temperature of the forehearth roof block and forms a liquid seal between the skirts 95 and the pockets 93. Combustion gases are vented from the forehearth back into the furnace proper and for this purpose, the block 94 is provided with an opening S6 whichis located above the glass level. Thus the block 94 performs the function of a skimmer block and a vent. The block 94 may also be lowered to cut off the flow of glass from the furnace to the forehearth and the opening is so located as to be well above the glass level even when the block is in its lowermost position.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various structural changes may also be made in different parts of the previously described combinations without altering its fundamental characteristics of operation. One such exemplary change is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 which illustrate another way of `effecting the periodic up and down movement of the feeder bells B-B. In this alternative construction, each of the large spur gears -5' is provided on its under face with a cam surface track ct-a that is engaged by two oppositely disposed cam rollers b--b` which are mounted on the heads of splined standards c-c. Thus, as the spur gears 5-5 are rotated, they are periodically moved into engagement with the screws 25 carried by the discs 23-23 and the movement is thus transmitted to the bells B-B. The splined standards c-c may be simultaneously raised or lowered by a pair of worm wheel nuts d-ol and worms e-e that are concurrently moved by a suitable handwheel f or other suitable means on the end of a shaft h carrying the worms c e to vary the maximum lift imparted to the feeder bells B-B by the upward movement of the spur gears 5-5.

The possibility of substantially varying the mechanical structure of my improved combination without altering its distinctive character is further exemplified by another embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive. In this embodiment, the feeder unit is of the reciprocating bell plunger type-as contrasted with the reciprocated bell-air pressure type of Fig. l-and comprises two vertically reciprocable bells B and B that are positioned over a pair of twin or dual orifices F-F in the forehearth A' and the plungers G-G that are vertically reciprocable within the bells B'-B. Each bell and plunger unit B'-G' and B-G is adapted to be periodically, but alternately,

moved up and down to effect the segregation and delivery of preformed mold charges in alternate succession through the orifices F'-F.

Each of the bells B-B is detachably secured to the lower ends of a sleeve rotatably mounted in a ball race IUI carried by the crosshead |02 and has an external gear |03 thereon which meshes with the corresponding gear |03 on the other sleeve and with an elongated pinion IM which is secured to a driven shaft |05. Each of the sleeves IIl-Ill is detachably secured to a collar IIJB which is carried on the outer end of a pivoted forked arm IIJ'I that is periodically rocked up and down, to raise and lower the bell B', by a cam |08 on a cam shaft |09 that engages a roller III] carried on the upper end of a weighted arm III that is attached to the inner end of an arm III'I (Fig. ll).

The upper ends of the plungers G-G are detachably secured to hollow shafts I I2-I I2 which extend through open ended cylinders II3-II3 carried by the cross-head I I4 and each shaft has a piston sleeve II5 mounted thereon which is moved up and down in its respective cylinder IIS, to raise and lower the plunger, by suitable motive fluid, such as compressed air, delivered alternately to the opposite ends of the cylinder I I3 through pipes I I B-I I1 that are connected to a source of compressed air through a timer valve H8. The timer valves I|8I I8 are periodically actuated to alternately connect the opposite ends of the cylinder I |3-I I3 to motive fluid by cams I IS-I I9 on the cam shaft |09 which is connected by miter gears I20--I2Il to a vertical shaft |2I that, in turn, is geared to the motor shaft I2Ia, ci' a continuously driven variable speed motor (not shown). The shaft |05 for rotating the bells B-B' is also driven from the cam shaft IIlS through the gear and shaft elements |22- I23-I2Ii-I25-I26.

In order to control and adjust the up and down stroke of the plungers G-G, the open ends of each of the cylinders II3-II3 are closed by sleeve nuts |2'I-|2| which are threaded into the ends of the cylinder and are operatively connected to two coaxially mounted rotatable shafts |26 and |29 through the sprocket wheel and chain elements I30-I3I--I32 (upper sleeve nut) and the gear, pinion, sprocket wheel and chain elements |33--I34-I35-I36, and |31, (lower sleeve nut). From this arrangement, it is apparent that each of the sleeve nuts I2'I-I2'I closing the ends of each of the cylinders ||3| I3 is independently movable into and out of their respective cylinders and as a result, the stroke of the pistons II5 and consequently the move ment of the plungers G--G may be readily and independently varied and adjusted to control the shape and size of the preformed mold charges.

To assist the plungers G-G in expelling the molten glass segregated in the bells B-B' through the orifices F'-F on the down strokes thereof, compressed air is simultaneously introduced into hollow members Idil-|40 which are formed integrally with the piston sleeves I |5-I I5 and communicate with the interior of the shafts ||2I I2 and from which it is delivered to the interior of the bells B-B'. The compressed air is introduced into the members IAD-|40 through the pipes I4 I-I4I which are connected to a suitable source of such air, at the proper time in the down strokes of the plungers GG, by cams MIZ-|42 on the cam shaft |09 which actuates a timer valve I 43 positioned in the compressed air lines I4I-I4I.

The cams IOS- |08 controlling the raising and lowering of each of the air bells B'-B are so arranged on the cam shaft |08 with respect to the cams ||9||9 controlling the operation of the plungers G-G that each bell will be moved upwardly before the plunger whereby a ow of glass is established from the forehearth A through the orifice F prior to the upward movement of the plunger and as a result, there is no retardation or retraction of the low through the orifice at the beginning of the up stroke of the plunger, but there is a diminution and a natural necking in the stream as a result of this decelerated flow under the influence of gravity alone, Thus, two continuously flowing streams of glass are produced, each of which is composed of a series of regularly recurrent sections of enlarged diameters connected together by portions of reduced diameters, and since each bell and plunger unit is working alternately with respect to each other, the enlarged portions of one stream are formed, while natural necking is taking place in the other stream, and these streams are adapted to be alternately severed, at the points of reduced diameters, into successive and preformed mold charges that are delivered alternately to the press molds of the forming machine. The mechanism employed for alternately severing the streams of molten glass is the saine and is actuated in the same manner as that heretofore described in connection with the construction illustrated in Figs. l-7, inclusive.

From the foregoing description of my invention it is apparent that each of the feeder mechanisms is readily and independently adjustable, and as a result, uniformity in the mass of the successive mold charges delivered alternately to the press mold tables is readily maintainable. Further, with my improved dual feeder, by rotating the bells concurrently in opposite directions, I am able to produce a symmetrical current circulation in the forehearth which may be flowing in the same direction or in the opposite direction to the currents of heating gases introduced into the forehearth through the burners 20D-200 (Fig. 6) and consequently the molten glass in the forehearth is maintained at a more nearly uniform temperature than can be secured with the present feeding mechanism since this concurrent rotation of the dual feeding devices in opposite directions keeps the molten glass well agitated and prevents the localization of cold spots therein.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An apparatus for delivering individual mold charges of molten glass comprising a forehearth having twin orifices in the bottom thereof, means for periodically segregating a quantity of material over each of said orifices, means for periodically expelling the segregated masses through said orifices, and common means for alternately severing the glass issuing through saidvoriflces into individual mold charges, including a pair of oppositely rotating shear blades adapted to cross each other at every half revolution first under one and then the other of said orifices.

2. An apparatus for delivering individual charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having two submerged orifices therein, means for segregating a quantity of glass over one of said orifices, means for expelling the segregated quantity through said orifice, means operable during the expelling of such segregated quantity for segregating a quantity of material Over the other of said orifices, means for expelling the last-mentioned quantity through the orifice, and common means for alternately severing the glass flowing through each of said orifices into individual mold charges.

3. A feeder for molten glass comprising a container having dual submerged orifices therein through which the glass issues, a vertically reciprocable hollow member positioned over each of said orifices, means for alternately raising and lowering each of said members, means associated with said members for applying an extruding force to the material over said orifices when said members are moved to their lowermost positions, and a pair of oppositely rotating shear blades adapted to cross each other first under one of said orifices and then under the other to sever -the streams issuing therethrough, said shear blades being so correlated to said member raising and lowering means` that they cross each other under each of said orifices as the hollow members positioned thereover are moving therefrom.

4. In combination in a glass feeder, a forehearth having two spaced submerged orifices formed in the fioor thereof, bells extending downwardly through the mass of molten glass in said container, one in axial alignment with each orifice for controlling the flow through such orifices, and means for periodically rotating said bells in opposite directions to create a definite circulation within such mass.

5. An apparatus for delivering mold charges of molten glass comprising a forehearth having a pair of spaced fiow orifices in the bottom thereof, an air bell mounted above and in vertical alignment with each of said orifices, a rotating spur gear loosely mounted on each of said bells, means for alternately raising and lowering said rotating spur gears, means on said bells adapted to be engaged on the upward movement of said rotating gears for raising and rotating said bells, means operable as said bells are raised for connecting the interior to a source of vacuum, means operable as said bells are lowered for introducing fluid pressure into saidbells, and a single means for alternately severing the streams issuing through said orifices.

6. In combination with a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged orifices therein through which the glass issues, a mechanism for successively severing the streams issuing through said orifices comprising a pair of coaxially mounted shear blades, means for rotating said blades in opposite ydirections to cause them to successively cross each other under the center of each said orifice, and means for moving said blades in the direction of travel of said stream as the blades cross each other in cutting engagement. Y

7. In combination with a container for molten glass having a pair of submerged orifices therein through which the glass issues in streams, mechanism-for successively severing the streams of glass flowing through said orices into individual mold charges comprising a pair of coaxially mounted shear blades, means for intermittently rotating said blades in opposite directions and throughV a half revolution to move said blades across each other rst under the center of one orifice and then under the center of the other orifice, and means associated with said blades for imparting a transverse movement thereto as they cross each other under said orifices.

8. In combination with a container for molten glass having two submerged discharge orifices therein through which the glass issues in continuous streams, a mechanism for successively severing the streams of glass fiowing through said orices into individual mold charges comprising a pair of coaxially mounted shear blades having their common axis located intermediate said orifices, a common shaft for rotating said blades in opposite directions, means for intermittently driving said shaft to turn said blades through onehalf a revolution whereby the blades cross each other successively under said orifices, and sever saidA streams, and means carried by said shaft for moving said blades in the direction of flow of said streams asthey cross each other under each orifice.

9. In combination with a container for molten glass having a pair of spaced submerged discharge orifices therein, through which the glass issues in continuous streams, a mechanism for successively severing the streams of glass fiow- `ing through said orifices into individual mold charges comprising a pair of coaxially mounted shear blades having their common axis posi- .tioned midway between said orifices, a common shaft for rotating said blades in opposite directions, a Geneva wheel operatively connected to said shaft, means for driving said Geneva wheel to intermittently turn said shaft and rotate said blades through one-half of a revolution at a time whereby said blades cross each other first under one and then under the other of said orifices, and means carried by said shaft for moving said blades in the direction of flow of said streams as they cross each other under said orifices.

l0. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged discharge outlet openings therein, a plurality of vertically movable air bells extending into the glass within said container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, a member associated with each of said bells and rotating relative thereto, separate means for reciprocatng each of said rotating members, and means carried by each bell adapted to be frictionally engaged by its respective rotating member on the upward movement thereof to raise and rotate each of said bells.

11. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged discharge orifices therein, a plurality of verti- `cally movable air bells extending into the glass within said container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said orifices, a member carried by each of said bells and movable relative thereto, means for rotating said members, separate means for reciprocating each of said members and a member carried by each bell adapted to be frictionally engaged by said r0- tating member on the upward movement thereof to raise and rotate said bell, the means for reciprocating said rotating members being so timed that one bell is moved upwardly and rotated while another is moving downwardly through said glass.

12. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged y discharge outlet openings therein, a plurality of vertically movable air bells extending into the glass within said container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, a tube connected to each of said air bells, a rotating member slidably mounted on each of said tubes, a vertically adjustable member secured to each of said tubes above said slidably mounted and rotating member, and separate means for periodically moving each of said rotating members into engagement with the members secured to said tubes whereby each of said bells is periodically raised and rotated.

13. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a, pair of spaced outlet openings therein, a vertically movable bell axially aligned with each outlet, means for alternately connecting the interior of said bells to sources of pressure and vacuum, and separate means for alternately reciprocating and rotating each of said bells, said last-mentioned means including a rotating member movable relative to each of said bells, a second member adjustably secured to each of said bells above said rotating members, and means for periodically moving each of said rotating members into frictional contact with said second-named members to thereby raise and rotate said bells.

14. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a pair of spaced outlet openings therein through which the glass issues, a vertically movable air bell axially aligned with each outlet, means for alternately connecting the interiors of said bells to sources of pressure and vacuum, and separate means for alternately reciprocating and rotating each of said bells, each of said last-mentioned means including a rotating member movable relative to said bell, a

second member adjustably secured to said bell above said rotating member, and means for periodically raising said rotating member to move it into frictional contact with said second-named member to thereby raise and rotate said bell, the means for reciprocating said rotating members being so timed that one bell is raised and rotated while another is moving downwardly.

l5. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a pair of spaced outlet openings therein through which the glass issues, a vertically movable air bell axially aligned with each outlet, means for alternately connecting the interior of each said bell to sources of pressure and vacuum, separate means for alternately reciprocating and rotating each of said bells, each of said last-mentioned means including a rotatable member movable relative to said bell, means for rotating said member, a second member adjustably secured to each of said bells above said rotating member, and means for periodically raising said rotating member to move it into frictional contact with said last-mentioned member to thereby raise and rotate said bell, and a single means for alternately severing a mold charge from the streams issuing through said oriiices.

16. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of; reciprocable sleeves extending into said container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, means for rotating each of said sleeves, separate means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, a plunger extending into each sleeve and separate means for reciprocating each of said plungers, the sleeve reciprocating means being so timed that one sleeve is moving upwardly while another is moving downwardly.

17. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into said container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, separate means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, said means being so timed that one sleeve moves away from its outlet while another moves toward its outlet, means for rotating said sleeves and vertically movable plungers for forcing the material in said sleeves through said outlets one of said plungers being mounted in each of said sleeves, said plungers being adapted to reciprocate in timed relation with the reciprocation of its respective sleeve.

18,. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of vertically reciprocable sleeves extending into the glass in said container one of which is in axial alignment with each outlet, separate means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, said means being so timed that one sleeve moves away from its outlet while another moves toward its outlet, means for rotating said sleeves, a plunger extending into each of said sleeves, separate means for reciprocating each of said plungers to discharge the glass in its respective sleeve through the outlet on the downstroke thereof, and means for periodically connecting the interior of each sleeve to a source of fluid pressure to assist its plunger in discharging the glass through the outlet.

19. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into the glass within said container one of which is in axial alignment with each outlet, separate means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, said means being correlated so that one sleeve moves away from its outlet while another moves toward its'outlet, means for continuously rotating said sleeves, a reciprocating plunger extending into each of said sleeves, a piston connected to reciprocate with each of said plungers, a cylinder in which each piston reciprocates, and means for delivering fluid pressure to alternate ends of said cylinder.

20. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into the glass within the container one of which is in axial alignment with each outlet, separate means for reciprocating said sleeves, said means being so timed that one sleeve moves away from its outlet while another moves toward its outlet, means for continuously rotating said sleeves, and means for discharging the glass in said sleeves through said outlets, each of said last-mentioned means including a reciprocating plunger extending into each of said sleeves, a piston connected to reciprocate with said plunger, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates, means for delivering fluid pressure to alternate ends of said cylinder, and means for varying the movement o fv said piston within said cylinder.

21'. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into said container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, separate means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, a plunger extending into each of said sleeves and separate means for reciprocating each of said plungers, the sleeve reciprocating means being so timed that one sleeve is moving upwardly while another is moving downwardly.

22. A glass feeder comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of outlet openings therein, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into said container, one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, separate means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, said means being so timed that one sleeve is moving away from its outlet while another sleeve is moving toward an outlet, and vertically movable plungers for expelling the material within said sleeves through said outlets, one of said plungers being mounted in each of said sleeves, said plungers being adapted to reciprocate in timed relation with the reciprocation of its respective sleeve.

23. Apparatus for delivering individual mold charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having two submerged discharge outlets therein, through which glass issues in continuously flowing streams, means for alternately accumulating a quota of glass over each said outlet, means for expelling the accumulated quota through one outlet while the quota is being accumulated over the other outlet, and common means for alternately severing the glass flowing through each said outlet into individual mold charges.

24. Apparatus for delivering individual mold charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having two submerged discharge outlets therein, through which glass-issues in continuously flowing streams, means for alternately accelerating the flow through each said outlet, and common means for alternately severing the streams flowing through each outlet into individual mold charges.

25. Apparatus for delivering individual mold charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having two submerged discharge outlets therein through which glass issues in continuously flowing streams, a single shear mechanism for alternately severing the streams iiowing through said outlet into individual mold charges,

and means associated with said shear mechanism for moving said shear in the direction of flow of `saicl stream during the severing operation.

26. Apparatus for forming and delivering individual mold 'charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged discharge outlets therein, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into said. container one of which is in axial alignment with each of said outlets, means for reciprocating each of said sleeves, means for alternately connecting each of said sleeves to` sources of pressure and vacuum to vary the flow through said outlets, and common means for severing the glass flowing through each of said outlets into individual mold charges.

2'7. Apparatus for forming and delivering individual mold charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged discharge outlets therein, a plurality of reoiprocable sleeves projecting into said container formed in axial aligmnent with each of said outlets, means for periodically expelling glass within each said sleeve through its respective outlet, and common means for severing the glass flowing through each said outlet into individual mold charges.

28. Apparatus for forming and delivering individual mold charges of molten glass comprising a container for molten glass having a plurality of submerged discharge outlets therein through which the glass issues in a continuously flowing stream, a plurality of reciprocable sleeves extending into said container one in axial alignment with each of said outlets, means for reciprocating each of said sleeves in timed relation with each other, means for expelling the glass within each said sleeves through its respective outlet to accelerate the flow therethrough, common means for successively severing the glass ilowing through each said outlet, and means for accelerating the delivery of su'ch severed charges,

FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH.

Images